Examples of Flow Assurance and

Dynamic Simulations in Aker Solutions

Tore Berge
Manager FADS Stavanger
Stavanger 31.05.2011

2009 Aker Solutions

part of Aker

New Pipelines / reservoirs

Selecting pipeline diameter

Inlet and outlet pressures

Pressure drops
Unstable flow regimes / slugging
Maria-Heidrun pipeline transportation characteristic
Total mass rate as function of pipeline ID and flowing wellhead pressure
Based on year 2020 composition - Year 2020 profile rate ~ 98 kg/s

Insulation and heating

Turndown
Start-up
Blow down

180
Total mass rate [kg/s]

Hydrate and wax formation

Inlet and outlet temperatures

200

160
140

75 bara
100 bara
125 bara
2020 profile rate

120
100
80
60
40

Production envelope (robustness)

10

11

12

13

Pipeline ID [inch]

Impact of various rates, pressures and temperatures

Typical for Hasselmus (Shell), Eldfisk (CoP) and Maria
(Wintershall)
2009 Aker Solutions

part of Aker

14

Start-up conditions evaluations

Temperature gradient propagation in reservoir and formation
Lift gas impact
Hydrate issues
Chemical injection
Material design temperatures (Wellhead, Template & Pipeline)
Topside inlet temperatures
Hasselmus Well Start-Up
Tubing inner wall tem perature, 355 m below sea bed
320 m formation layer included in model

70
60
Temperature [C]

Final steady state production temperature

50
40
30
Initial no-flow temperature

20
10
0
0,001

0,01

0,1

10

100

Time [days]

Typical Eldfisk (CoP), Hasselmus (Shell) and Gyda (BP)

2009 Aker Solutions

part of Aker

Pipeline depressurisation (blow down)

Hydrates

Flare capacity

Topside liquid handling capacity

Low temperatures and material design temperatures (Topside)

Typical Oselvar (DONG), Hasselmus (Shell), Gudrun (Statoil), Snorre B (Statoil)

2009 Aker Solutions

part of Aker

Production Interaction from multiple wells

Impact from different wells

Pressure build up and closing
of wells
Unstable flows
Density variations

Typical Valhall (BP), Eldfisk (CoP)

2009 Aker Solutions

part of Aker

Changes in Operating Conditions (Operating envelope)

Reservoir / Production composition
Lift gas
Peak rates
Low pressure production in receiving facilities (IOR)
Late life operation
Trouble shooting

Typical Valhall (BP), Eldfisk (CoP), EKOM (CoP)

2009 Aker Solutions

part of Aker

Slug and relief impact on Topside equipment, piping and

support
Reaction forces on pipe support and equipment
Separator / Vessel liquid handling capacity
Pumping / removal of liquid from vessels

Typical Eldfisk (CoP), Snorre (Statoil), Valhall (BP)

2009 Aker Solutions

part of Aker

Choke failure or valve mal-operation

Define Scenarios included Topside Process operating dynamics
Evaluate Primary and Secondary safety barriers
Compare Accidental pressures to System Design Pressures
Check Flare capacity

Typical Snorre (Statoil), Ekofisk / Eldfisk (CoP), Grane (Statoil)

2009 Aker Solutions

part of Aker

Flare Capacity

Dynamic simulations included friction and buffers (e.g. vessels)

Reduced peak flows

Choke 3 x CV=36
Dynamic simulation
Max gas rate, flare: 214 000 kg/h
Max pressure, KO-drum: 1.6 bara
Static simulation
Max gas rate: Approximately 500 000 kg/h

Typical Snorre B (Statoil), Special cases (Statoil)

2009 Aker Solutions

part of Aker

Other Topside dynamic simulations

Start of pumps (pressure peaks)
Heat-exchanger leaks (tube rupture)
Compressor operation (anti surge)
Flare system
Unstable flow in steam waste heat recovery
Gas blowby
Depressurisation of Topside segments (Equipment & piping)

The World is Dynamic

2009 Aker Solutions

part of Aker

STATUS Flow Assurance and Dynamic simulations (FADS)

Organisation in Stavanger

10 members from the process discipline (multi-skill between

process and flow assurance / dynamic simulations)
Participate in Front end studies and Projects
Main co-operation parties

Snorre B Overpressure
protection

Aker Solutions in Oslo, Bergen

and Kristiansund
Aker Solutions Subsea
Recent clients in Stavanger

BP
Statoil
ConocoPhillips
Shell
Wintershall
Gassco

Kvitebj
Kvitebj
rn
Wet gas Pipeline

Troll
Wet gas Pipeline

Sture Flash drum

Grane Long Wells

Eldfisk Slug evaluations

Eldfisk Blowdown
evaluations

2009 Aker Solutions

Valhall pipeline
Start-up

part of Aker

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2009 Aker Solutions

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2009 Aker Solutions

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