flow assurance
flow assurance
(OP)
Hi every one, I was looking for any advice that could help me sorting out a solution for a practical problem that we have in the field.
The main issue is that we have 3 lines coming from different wells (oil) that are connected in a gathering line (trunk line)which constitute a bottleneck, to the oil plant, we are facing these years an increase in the gas handled within the pipeline that increase the pressure in the lines and so the production of the wells is reduced (back pressure)the solution that our office (engineering) found was to double the lines (line looping) the pressure would be lower (back pressure) and so we could recover the production and face any increase of gas volume due to the evolution of the field (gas breakthrough)
But I was wondering if there wasn't another solution, actually I was thinking of an equalizer-like solution, to release the pressure in the 3 lines that have in fact different pressure, could we connect the 3 pipelines one to the other (cross connection) to equalize the pressure first that should release the pressure downstream (bottle-neck)
any advice about this latter solution?
thanks in advance!
The main issue is that we have 3 lines coming from different wells (oil) that are connected in a gathering line (trunk line)which constitute a bottleneck, to the oil plant, we are facing these years an increase in the gas handled within the pipeline that increase the pressure in the lines and so the production of the wells is reduced (back pressure)the solution that our office (engineering) found was to double the lines (line looping) the pressure would be lower (back pressure) and so we could recover the production and face any increase of gas volume due to the evolution of the field (gas breakthrough)
But I was wondering if there wasn't another solution, actually I was thinking of an equalizer-like solution, to release the pressure in the 3 lines that have in fact different pressure, could we connect the 3 pipelines one to the other (cross connection) to equalize the pressure first that should release the pressure downstream (bottle-neck)
any advice about this latter solution?
thanks in advance!





RE: flow assurance
On the other hand, looping is a safer long term solution and will help as long as its done right and the pipe area is not increased too much. You probably don't want to reduce gas velocity so low that oil slugging starts, or so you enter some other undesireable flow regime.
"If everything seems under control, you're just not moving fast enough."
- Mario Andretti- When asked about transient hydraulics
http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com
RE: flow assurance
the looping in my idea should be done from the gathering point where the 3 lines join and downstream this point (for 500 m for example) do release also the bottle neck.
if I can summarise my view, the solution could be as fellow:
- first run 2 cross pipes connecting the 3 lines as an equalizer (the connection should be done on the upper part of the pipelines obviously)
- second to avoid the bottle-neck in the gathering point, loop the trunk line for 500 meters (let's say) this should release also the bottle-neck effect (debottle-necking)
I hope you can give me your point of view about this solution
thanks in advance!
kader
RE: flow assurance
thanks and sorry for disturbing you guys!
RE: flow assurance
The safer bet is looping a few, all, or a portion of one or all of the lines.
"If everything seems under control, you're just not moving fast enough."
- Mario Andretti- When asked about transient hydraulics
http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com
RE: flow assurance
all the lines have the same diameter, but as the volume ratios of the 3 phases are evolving I can't say that they will be allways the same; the next days we'll run a test (injection of drag reducer) to see if the production will change or not.
anyway I see that as you are more experienced than me, your choice is more on the line looping, so thanks for the advice and for your help!
Thank you (muchas gracias as spanish say isn't it)
RE: flow assurance
"If everything seems under control, you're just not moving fast enough."
- Mario Andretti- When asked about transient hydraulics
http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com
RE: flow assurance
RE: flow assurance
RE: flow assurance
If you were plowing a field, which would you rather use? Two strong oxen or 1024 chickens?" - Seymour Cray (1925-1996), father of supercomputing
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