Purpose of the Slug Catcher

A Slug Catcher is an unit with sufficient buffer volume to store the largest slugs expected from the upstream system (i.e. pipeline). The Slug Catcher is located between the outlet of the pipeline and the processing equipment. The buffered liquids can be drained to the processing units at a much slower rate to prevent overloading the system. As slugs are a periodical phenomenon, the slug catcher should be emptied (minimum inventory) before the next slug arrives.

Slug Catcher Design Basis (Size)

Related to maximum liquid volume to be hold. Considering all modes of liquid production at the end of the pipeline (i.e. ramp-up, pigging, steady state). In general, volume = (liqin liqout)max
or:
t1 t2

(Vin(t) Vout) dt

where: t2 t1 = pigging period

Type of Slug Catcher

Vessel type Multiple pipe / Harp / finger type Parking-loop type

Vertical Slug Catcher Vessel

Good separation - useful up to 5 - 700 bbls (0.8 - 111.3 m3) slug volume. Useful where small particle separation (10 microns) is required and gas flow is large in relation to liquid slug size. Equipment is expensive and heavy when large sizes are required

Horizontal Slug Catcher Vessel

Good separation - useful up to 5 - 700 bbls (0.8 111.3 m3) slug volume. Can give good separation (10 microns) where there is more liquid and lower gas flow. Useful as three phase separator. Becomes expensive and heavy when large sizes are required.

Slug Catcher (Geometry)

Inlet Section - End of the pipeline - Splitter(s) - Inlet Header - Downcomers - Expanders Bottle Section - Primary bottles - Secondary bottles (optional) - Equalizer system - Liquid outlet header

Finger Type

Gas Outlet Section - Gas risers - Gas outlet header(s) - Gas outlet(s)

Slug Catcher (Geometry, Contd)

Finger Type

Traditional Finger Type

Slug Catcher (Geometry, Contd)

Finger Type

Nogat Slug Catcher

St. Fergus Slug Catcher

Slug Catcher Manufacturer - Vendor

Taylor Forge USA BKW USA Babcock Eagleton USA Comart Italy
(at UPD, Gresik, 2006 500 m3 slug volume)

Finger Type Slug Catcher Taylor-Forge Model

The distribution manifold takes the incoming gas/liquid stream, slows it down, and splits it into several smaller streams to allow uniform flow into the separation chambers. In the separation chambers, the majority of the gas liquid separation is accomplished. The required length, size and number of these chambers is a combined function of gas flow, gas chemistry and other known conditions. The primary function of the dry gas risers is to deliver dry gas back into the system. As some secondary separation occurs here, their sizing is important. The storage harps hold the liquids at line pressure and the number and length of these harps is determined by the storage requirements The liquid and sludge manifolds provide separation of the water, oil and debris. The oil and water are then removed from the storage end for further processing (oil) or re-injection (water).

Finger Type Slug Catcher

Taylor-Forge Model (Contd)

Slug Catcher BKW Model

Slug Catcher BKW Model (Contd)

Slug Catcher BKW Model (Contd)

Slug Catcher BKW Model (Contd)

in Ujung Pangkah Development Project (UPD) 2006 (Case Study)

Modified Finger Type Slug Catcher Multiple-pipe Slug Catcher combined with inlet separator Advantages (compared to common type): - Reducing finger material (14m x 8 x 0.92 ton/m = 103 ton) Cost Reduction & minimizing area of construction - Dry gas outlet max. liquid carryover of 0.1 gal/mmscf gas by separators demister Design basis = 500 m3 slug volume, 70 barg, NACE CS Vendor: Comart, Italy

Slug Catcher

Selected Model

Traditional Model