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Flow Assurance

This document provides an introduction to flow assurance and the software OLGA. It defines flow assurance as ensuring the successful and economical flow of hydrocarbons from the reservoir to the point of sale. It discusses why flow assurance is important for transporting hydrocarbons over long distances and deeper wells. It also describes different pipeline flow behaviors like horizontal and vertical flow, and compares multiphase and single-phase flow. Finally, it provides examples of typical pipeline activities in flow assurance like thermohydraulic calculations and pipeline pigging.

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576 views10 pages

Flow Assurance

This document provides an introduction to flow assurance and the software OLGA. It defines flow assurance as ensuring the successful and economical flow of hydrocarbons from the reservoir to the point of sale. It discusses why flow assurance is important for transporting hydrocarbons over long distances and deeper wells. It also describes different pipeline flow behaviors like horizontal and vertical flow, and compares multiphase and single-phase flow. Finally, it provides examples of typical pipeline activities in flow assurance like thermohydraulic calculations and pipeline pigging.

Uploaded by

sri9987
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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FLOW ASSURANCE & INTRODUCTION TO OLGA

Vijay Sarathy
Senior Engineer
Staff ID: 7142
Process Technologies Department
Saipem India Projects Ltd.

March, 2011
What is Flow Assurance?

 Flow Assurance refers to successful & economical flow of hydrocarbon


stream from reservoir to the point of sale.
 Coined in the 1990’s by Petrobras as ‘Garantia de Escoamento’ meaning
‘Guarantee of Flow’.
 Broadly classified as Onshore & Offshore Flow Assurance
 Involves performing single/multiphase flow calculations to address
pipeline HC transportation problems, some of which are
 Pressure drop adequacy & pipeline velocity limitations
 Environmental effects on transported product
 Hydrate, Wax & Asphaltene Depositions
 Slugging Phenomenon
 Pipeline corrosion & Erosion
 Upsets affecting Pipeline Operation
Why Flow Assurance?

 Necessity arose from the basis of extending multiphase flow to large


distances (~50 km & above)
 Requirement of transporting from deeper wells
 Gained importance when HC transportation became a matter of concern
due to factors such as
 Large Pressure losses causing lowered production
 Pipeline Blockages due to Wax & Hydrates stopping production
 Pipeline Rupture from corrosion
 Severe Slugging in risers destroying separators
 Oil Wells inability to lift
 Presence of Sand & Particulate causing pipeline erosion
Pipeline Flow Behaviour

 Flow complexity depends on factors some of which are,


 Pipeline Length
 Elevation
 Geometry (e.g., Diameter, Wall Thickness, etc)
 Material of Construction
 Internal Roughness (affected by coatings, etc)
 Location (e.g. Above Ground/Buried or Subsea)
 Nature of Fluid transported (e.g., Wet Gas, Condensate, Well stream fluids,
dense phase fluids, Oil & Natural gas, etc)
 Nature of Flow (TBD in the forthcoming slides)
 Environmental Conditions (Ambient Temperature, Wind velocity, etc)
 External Insulation
 External process changers (e.g., heated pipeline, etc)
 Machinery Effects (Compressors, Pumps, etc)
 Presence of Solvents (Inhibitors, drag reducing agents, etc)
 Presence of Sand & Corroded Particulate matter
2/3 Phase Pipeline Flow Patterns

Horizontal Flow Vertical Flow


Multiphase Flow vs. Single Phase Flow

 Phase change is the key factor determining Pipeline Design & Operations
 Single Phase Pipeline Flow is easier to manage since
 Offer Lower pressure drops compared to similar multiphase configuration
 Avoids slugging phenomena
 For liquid lines, single phase pumps can be used which are cheaper
 Multiphase flow (2/3 phase)
 Higher Pressure drops (Larger pipelines do not always lead to lower P!!)
 Affects quality of transported product
 Affects Pipeline Blow down Temperatures & Flows
 Necessity for a Slug Catcher to address possible slugging
 Multiphase pumps are needed which can prove to be relatively expensive
 Sand Laden flow cause erosion (Duplex steel might be needed)
 Existence of Hydrates problem
Two Phase P Profile for Hilly Terrain
Typical Pipeline Activities in Flow Assurance

 Thermo hydraulic Calculations (P, Velocity & EVR Criteria, Flows, etc)
 Pipe wall thickness estimation
 Pipeline Start up
 Pipeline Shutdown
 Ramp up / Ramp Down (Turndown)
 Pipeline Pigging
 Pipeline Depressurization
 Hydrate Inhibitor Dosage Calculations
 Choke Valve Calculations
 Pipeline Surge Analysis
Sample Pipeline Report

 Client: Kuwait Oil Company


 Scope of Work: Thermo-hydraulic Analysis for Water Injection Lines
THANK YOU

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