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SEPARATOR
PLATFORM OR
RISER FLOATER
PROCESS
50 - 2000 m
FACILITIES
DISTRIBUTE FLOWLINES
TREE
CHEMICALS
RISER BASE
SUPPLY LINES
SEA BED
FLOW ASSURANCE
1000 - 10000 m
Gas Hydrates
Paraffin/
Asphaltenes Sand/Erosion
Emulsion/
Scale Foam
FLOW ASSURANCE
- H y d r a t e s - F o r m a t io n o f ic e c r y s t a ls in c o r p a r a t in g m e th a n e a n d o t h e r
h y d r o c a r b o n s in lo w t e m p e r a tu r e s , h ig h p r e s s u r e , w e t s y s t e m s p r o d u c in g
g a s , c o n d e n s a t e o r o il.
- W a x / A s p h a l t e n e s - T h e d e p o s it io n o f s o lid s in s id e t h e f lo w lin e s a n d
r is e r s r e d u c in g f lo w c a p a c it y a n d u lt im a t e ly b lo c k in g t h e lin e .
- S l u g g i n g - T h e p h e n o m e n a c a u s e d b y t h e in s t a b ilit ie s o f th e g a s a n d
liq u id in t e r f a c e s a n d liq u id s w e e p - o u t b y g a s in e r t ia l e f f e c t s .
- C o r r o s i o n - W e a r in g o f t h e p ip e w o r k a n d f lo w lin e w a ll t h ic k n e s s d u e to
c h e m is t r y o f th e p r o d u c e d f lu id s .
- E m u l s i o n s - O il a n d w a t e r m ix t u r e s a t a p p r o x im a te ly 4 0 t o 6 0 % w a t e r c u t
t h a t c a u s e e x c e s s iv e p r e s s u r e lo s s e s in th e w e lls o r t h e S P S s y s t e m .
- S a n d P r o d u c t i o n - S a n d p r o d u c t io n f r o m t h e r e s e r v o ir c a u s in g b lo c k a g e
o f s y s t e m c o m p o n e n t s s u c h a s f lo w lin e s .
- E r o s i o n - W e a r in g o f t h e m a n if o ld p ip e w o r k a n d t h e f lo w lin e w a lls d u e to
s o lid p a r t ic le s s u c h a s s a n d o r liq u id s im p in g e m e n t p a s s in g a t h ig h
v e lo c it ie s .
- C o l d P o i n t s - M u lt ip le n o n in s u la t e d d e v ic e s in t h e s y s t e m in c o n ta c t w it h
t h e s u r r o u n d in g c o ld w a t e r a c t in g a s f a s t h e a t e x c h a n g e r s in p a r t ic u la r
d u r in g w e ll s h u t d o w n a n d o th e r o p e r a t in g m o d e s .
The successful design and operation of a multiphase production system must
consider design parameters and issues for the entire system, from the reservoir to the
processing and export facilities. To assure that the entire system can be designed to
operate successfully and economically, system designers must consider flow
assurance fundamentals such as reservoir characteristics, production profiles,
produced fluid chemistry, and environmental conditions as well as mechanical,
operational, risk, and economic issues for all parts of the system.
Important system parameters established as part of the design effort include tubing
and flowline diameters, insulation (on wellbore tubing, trees, jumpers, manifolds,
flowlines and risers), chemical injection requirements, flow blockage intervention
provisions, host facility requirements, capital and operating costs, operating
boundaries (e.g. maximum and minimum production rates), and risk mitigation. All
production modes including startup, normal steady state operation, rate change, and
shutdown must be considered throughout the system life-cycle.
Flow assurance encompasses the thermal-hydraulic design and assessment of
multiphase production/transport systems as well as the prediction, prevention, and
remediation of flow stoppages due to solids deposition (particularly due to hydrates
and waxes). In all cases, flow assurance designs must consider the capabilities and
requirements for all parts of the system throughout the entire production life of
the system to reach a successful solution.
System Design is the synthesis of Flow Assurance and Operability features and
attributes with those of all other aspects of the system. These include Reservoir,
Completions, Subsea Hardware, Controls, Pipelines, Facilities, Production Operations,
Transportation, Economics, and others. The successful flow assurance design will
represent a system solution that best meets the needs of all groups.
Topsides
Well boundary
Choke condition
Gas Jumper
Lift
Pipework
Cover
Riser
Field Flowline
Joints
104
ANNULAR-DISPERSED DISPERSED-BUBBLE
GAS PHASE MOMENTUM FLUX LIQUID
103
SLUG
STRATIFIED-WAVE
102
INTERMITTENT
101 PLUG
STRATIFIED-SMOOTH
100
SEVERE SLUGGING
• Produced by Combinations of Segregated
Flow and Terrain B. SLUG PRODUCTION D. GAS BLOW-DOWN
Hydrate Plug
SEPARATOR PUMPS
UMBILICAL
ELECTRIC POWER
CONNECTOR SUBSEA CONTROL
SYSTEM
CLEANING PIG
Non-Insulated
connection between or
Pressure Drop in Chokes or Flow Flowline & Riser Base
Path leading to Joule-Thompson
Cooling
INCREASED USE OF
INSULATION ON
SUBSEA EQUIPMENT
FLOWLINE INSULATION