Flow Assurance
Flow Assurance
Flow Assurance
Wax
Hydrate
Heavy oil
Terminology:
Precipitation vs. Deposition
Adhesion Cohesion
Fluid Flow
TUBING
Cyclo-alkanes
C30 C60
7
Wax Appearance Phase Diagram
3 2 1
2 LS 1 L 1G
WAT
C
Pressure
3 VLS 2 VL
Temperature
8 P. G.
3/22/2017
Asphaltenes
S A R A
Effect of Composition on Asphaltene Stability
Resin
Aromatic
Saturate
11 P. G.
3/22/2017
Asphaltene Onset Phase Diagram
12
Solid Phase Boundaries
L-W
L
L-A-W
L-A
L-V-A
L-V-A-W
L-V
L-V-W
Temperature
13 P. G.
3/22/2017
What Are Hydrates?
Ice like crystals formed from water and light hydrocarbons
(~85 mol% water, ~15 mol% hydrocarbon), which when
agglomerated can block the flow path
Contain as much as 180 volumes (STP) of gas per volume of
hydrate/solid
Can form at temperatures >18C (>65F) when the pressure
is >170 bar (>2,500psi)
14
Hydrates (formed during production OR as natural deposits)
16 P. G.
3/22/2017
Visual Determination of the Hydrate Locus
100 Wt % Methanol
60 0.0
40
20.0 10.0
20
Pressure, MPa
10
4
V-L Locus
2
0.8
0.4
0.2
0.0
8
0.0
4- 0 10 20 30
10
16000
14000
12000 Wax
10000
Reservoir
Pressure (psia)
Hydrate
8000
6000 Asphaltene
4000
Bubble Point
Flow line
2000
Temperature (F)
Reservoir Water Composition
Other Cations
Sr +, Li+, Ba++, Al+++, NH4+, Fe+++, Pb++, Mn++, Zn++, etc.
at formation level
in the tubing
in surface equipment
Oilfield Scale Formation Mechanisms
The three main mechanisms by which scales form in the reservoir and production
systems :
21 P. G.
3/22/2017
Corrosion: Acid Gases (CO2 and H2S)
Acid Gases (CO2 & H2S) when in the presence of water, exhibit
an acidic property which leads to corrosion issues.
CO2 and H2S are generating acids in presence of water:
CO2 + H2O H+ + HCO3-
CO2 + H2O 2H+ + CO3--
H2S + H2O H+ + HS-
H2S + H2O 2H+ + S--
CO2 and H2S are soluble in both oil and water, therefore they
are present in all three phases.
22 P. G.
3/22/2017
Sand
Sand is produced from the reservoir for various reasons:
Unconsolidated rocks
Water production
Sudden change in pressure and flow rates
Improper chemical treatment
Overburden stress while pressure decrease
23 P. G.
3/22/2017