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Flow assurance for offshore and subsea facilities: Difference between revisions
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Flow assurance, by definition, focuses on the whole engineering and production life cycle from the reservoir through refining, to ensure with high confidence that the reservoir fluids can be moved from the reservoir to the refinery smoothly and without interruption. | Flow assurance, by definition, focuses on the whole engineering and production life cycle from the reservoir through refining, to ensure with high confidence that the reservoir fluids can be moved from the reservoir to the refinery smoothly and without interruption. | ||
== Overview == | |||
The full scope of flow assurance is shown in '''Fig. 1'''. Flow assurance matters specific to subsea tieback systems are shown in '''Fig. 2'''. Flow assurance is sometimes referred to as “cash assurance” because breakdown in flow assurance anywhere in the entire cycle would be expected to lead to monetary losses. A few specific flow assurance issues are discussed next. | The full scope of flow assurance is shown in '''Fig. 1'''. Flow assurance matters specific to subsea tieback systems are shown in '''Fig. 2'''. Flow assurance is sometimes referred to as “cash assurance” because breakdown in flow assurance anywhere in the entire cycle would be expected to lead to monetary losses. A few specific flow assurance issues are discussed next. | ||
<gallery widths=300px heights=200px> | <gallery widths="300px" heights="200px"> | ||
File:Vol3 Page 554 Image 0001.png|'''Fig. 1—Full scope of flow assurance (courtesy of MSL Engineering).''' | File:Vol3 Page 554 Image 0001.png|'''Fig. 1—Full scope of flow assurance (courtesy of MSL Engineering).''' | ||
Line 10: | Line 11: | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==Special considerations== | == Special considerations == | ||
=== Pressure support consideration === | |||
It is necessary for sufficient pressure to be available to transport the hydrocarbons at the required flow rates from the reservoir to the processing unit. Matters that require consideration in this regard include: | It is necessary for sufficient pressure to be available to transport the hydrocarbons at the required flow rates from the reservoir to the processing unit. Matters that require consideration in this regard include: | ||
* Pressure loss in flowlines | *Pressure loss in flowlines | ||
* Separator pressure setpoint | *Separator pressure setpoint | ||
* Pressure loss in wells | *Pressure loss in wells | ||
* [[ | *[[Artificial_lift_selection_methods|Artificial lift method selection]] | ||
* Remote multiphase boosting | *Remote multiphase boosting | ||
* Drag reduction | *Drag reduction | ||
* Slugging in horizontal wells | *Slugging in horizontal wells | ||
* [[ | *[[Gas_lift|Gas lift system]] stability | ||
* Interaction with reservoir performance | *Interaction with reservoir performance | ||
=== Component and system design consideration === | |||
Components and systems should be designed and operated to ensure that flowrate targets are achieved and that flow is continuous. Issues to be taken into account include: | |||
*[[Equilibrium_of_water_and_hydrocarbon_systems_with_hydrates|Hydrate formation]] | |||
*[[Wax_precipitation|Wax deposition]] | |||
*[[Asphaltene_deposition_and_plugging|Asphaltenes]] | |||
*Sand and solids transport | |||
*[[Corrosion_problems_in_production|Corrosion]] | |||
*Erosion | |||
*[[Scale_problems_in_production|Scale deposition]] | |||
*Interaction of slugging and pipe fittings | |||
*Interaction of slugging and risers | |||
*Relief and blow-down | |||
*Pigging | |||
*Liquid inventory management | |||
*Well shut-in pressure | |||
=== Multiphase flow considerations === | |||
For multiphase flowlines, it is necessary for the process to be able to handle the fluid delivery, and consideration should be given to a number of issues including | For multiphase flowlines, it is necessary for the process to be able to handle the fluid delivery, and consideration should be given to a number of issues including | ||
* Interaction with facilities performance | *Interaction with facilities performance | ||
* Slugging (steady state) | *Slugging (steady state) | ||
* Slugging (transient) | *Slugging (transient) | ||
* Slug-catcher design | *Slug-catcher design | ||
* Severe slugging prevention | *Severe slugging prevention | ||
* Effect of flow rate change | *Effect of flow rate change | ||
* Temperature loss prediction | *Temperature loss prediction | ||
* Piping layout | *Piping layout | ||
* Remote multiphase metering | *Remote multiphase metering | ||
* Gas and dense phase export | *Gas and dense phase export | ||
* Oil and condensate export | *Oil and condensate export | ||
* Separator performance | *Separator performance | ||
== Technology development == | |||
The need for [[Well_test|well testing]] and overall production system optimization contributes to flow assurance issues. Significant advances have been made in this field. Flow assurance will continue to remain critical technology as deepwater developments progress and as longer tiebacks from subsea wellhead systems are considered. | |||
== | == References == | ||
Use this section for citation of items referenced in the text to show your sources. [The sources should be available to the reader, i.e., not an internal company document.] | Use this section for citation of items referenced in the text to show your sources. [The sources should be available to the reader, i.e., not an internal company document.] | ||
==Noteworthy papers in OnePetro== | == Noteworthy papers in OnePetro == | ||
Use this section to list papers in OnePetro that a reader who wants to learn more should definitely read | Use this section to list papers in OnePetro that a reader who wants to learn more should definitely read | ||
==Online multimedia== | == Online multimedia == | ||
Jamaluddin, Abul. 2013. Flow Assurance – Managing Flow Dynamics and Production Chemistry. http://eo2.commpartners.com/users/spe/session.php?id=11553 | |||
Jamaluddin, Abul. 2013. Flow Assurance – Managing Flow Dynamics and Production Chemistry. [http://eo2.commpartners.com/users/spe/session.php?id=11553 http://eo2.commpartners.com/users/spe/session.php?id=11553] | |||
== External links == | |||
Use this section to provide links to relevant material on websites other than PetroWiki and OnePetro | Use this section to provide links to relevant material on websites other than PetroWiki and OnePetro | ||
==See also== | == See also == | ||
[[Offshore and subsea facilities]] | |||
[[Offshore_and_subsea_facilities|Offshore and subsea facilities]] | |||
[[Offshore_arctic_operations|Offshore arctic operations]] | |||
[[Subsea_systems|Subsea systems]] | |||
[[ | [[PEH:Offshore_and_Subsea_Facilities]] | ||
[[ | [[Category:4.3 Flow assurance]][[Category:5.3.2 Multiphase flow]] |
Revision as of 09:56, 2 June 2015
Flow assurance, by definition, focuses on the whole engineering and production life cycle from the reservoir through refining, to ensure with high confidence that the reservoir fluids can be moved from the reservoir to the refinery smoothly and without interruption.
Overview
The full scope of flow assurance is shown in Fig. 1. Flow assurance matters specific to subsea tieback systems are shown in Fig. 2. Flow assurance is sometimes referred to as “cash assurance” because breakdown in flow assurance anywhere in the entire cycle would be expected to lead to monetary losses. A few specific flow assurance issues are discussed next.
Special considerations
Pressure support consideration
It is necessary for sufficient pressure to be available to transport the hydrocarbons at the required flow rates from the reservoir to the processing unit. Matters that require consideration in this regard include:
- Pressure loss in flowlines
- Separator pressure setpoint
- Pressure loss in wells
- Artificial lift method selection
- Remote multiphase boosting
- Drag reduction
- Slugging in horizontal wells
- Gas lift system stability
- Interaction with reservoir performance
Component and system design consideration
Components and systems should be designed and operated to ensure that flowrate targets are achieved and that flow is continuous. Issues to be taken into account include:
- Hydrate formation
- Wax deposition
- Asphaltenes
- Sand and solids transport
- Corrosion
- Erosion
- Scale deposition
- Interaction of slugging and pipe fittings
- Interaction of slugging and risers
- Relief and blow-down
- Pigging
- Liquid inventory management
- Well shut-in pressure
Multiphase flow considerations
For multiphase flowlines, it is necessary for the process to be able to handle the fluid delivery, and consideration should be given to a number of issues including
- Interaction with facilities performance
- Slugging (steady state)
- Slugging (transient)
- Slug-catcher design
- Severe slugging prevention
- Effect of flow rate change
- Temperature loss prediction
- Piping layout
- Remote multiphase metering
- Gas and dense phase export
- Oil and condensate export
- Separator performance
Technology development
The need for well testing and overall production system optimization contributes to flow assurance issues. Significant advances have been made in this field. Flow assurance will continue to remain critical technology as deepwater developments progress and as longer tiebacks from subsea wellhead systems are considered.
References
Use this section for citation of items referenced in the text to show your sources. [The sources should be available to the reader, i.e., not an internal company document.]
Noteworthy papers in OnePetro
Use this section to list papers in OnePetro that a reader who wants to learn more should definitely read
Online multimedia
Jamaluddin, Abul. 2013. Flow Assurance – Managing Flow Dynamics and Production Chemistry. http://eo2.commpartners.com/users/spe/session.php?id=11553
External links
Use this section to provide links to relevant material on websites other than PetroWiki and OnePetro