Overview of Flow Assurance Challenges
6th COPEDI Meeting Rio de Janeiro
May 2015
Agenda
• Morning Session:
• Overview (Daniel Merino-Garcia, Repsol Sinopec Brasil)
• Afternoon Session:
• MULTIPHASE FLOW (Rigoberto Morales, UTFPR)
• ONLINE MONITORING (Reda Boumra, ONESUBSEA)
• TEMPERATURE CONTROL (Roberta Pires, TECHNIP)
Flow Assurance
Production Challenges
- Flow Instabilities
- Blockages
Production Profiles
- Recovery Factor
- NPV
Flow Assurance
S
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O
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CH3
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N
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O
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
PO
LA
RIT
Y
MOL WEIGHT
Saturates Light-
Ends
Aromatics
Resins
Asphaltenes
CH3
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH3
CH3
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH3
Pre
ssu
re
Temperature
Experimental Composition & Behavior
Models & Software for Equilibria & Flow
Analysis Options for Control & Mitigation
• Flow Assurance Risk Assessment
Fluid Composition
Experimental Composition & Behavior
All fluids with same API and GOR
ARE EQUIVALENT?
• API Density (10 is water density)
• Gas Density (normalized vs. air)
• Gas-Oil Ratio
Fluid Composition
Experimental Composition & Behavior
PO
L.
MW
Saturates Light- Ends
Aromatics
Resins
Asphaltenes
High
Medium
Low
Very Low
• Fluid Composition depends on Source Rock Maturity
PO
L.
Fluid Composition
Experimental Composition & Behavior
• Fluid Composition depends on Source Rock Maturity
PO
L.
MW
Saturates Light- Ends
Aromatics
Resins
Asphaltenes
High
Medium
Low
Very Low
Fluid Composition
Experimental Composition & Behavior
• Fluid Composition depends on Source Rock Maturity
PO
L.
MW
Saturates Light- Ends
Aromatics
Resins
Asphaltenes
High
Medium
Low
Very Low
Fluid Composition
Experimental Composition & Behavior
• Fluid Composition depends on Source Rock Maturity
PO
L.
MW
Saturates
Aromatics
Resins
Asphaltenes
High
Medium
Low
Very Low
Light- Ends
Fluid Composition
Experimental Composition & Behavior
• Fluid Composition depends on Source Rock Maturity
PO
L.
MW
Saturates
Aromatics
Resins
Asphaltenes
High
Medium
Low
Very Low
Light- Ends
Fluid Composition
Experimental Composition & Behavior
• Fluid Composition depends on Source Rock Maturity
PO
L.
MW
Saturates
Aromatics
Resins
Asphaltenes
High
Medium
Low
Very Low
Light- Ends
Fluid Composition
Experimental Composition & Behavior
• Fluid Composition depends on Source Rock Maturity
• Fluid Composition depends on:
• Secondary Charges
• Homogenization
• In-Situ Alterations
Fractionation
Biodegradation
Washing
Hydrocarbon Challenges
Experimental Composition & Behavior
• Wax:
Heavy non-polar molecules solidify due to cooling. They will generate restrictions during flow (Deposition) and Blockage upon shutdown (Gelation).
• Asphaltenes:
Heavy polar components that solidify due to loss of pressure or mixing of incompatible streams.
S
N
N
CH3
O
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
S
N
N
CH3
CH3
O
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
PO
LA
RIT
Y
MOL WEIGHT
Saturates Light-
Ends
Aromatics
Resins
Asphaltenes
CH3
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH3
CH3
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH3
Water-Related Challenges
Experimental Composition & Behavior
S
N
N
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O
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CH3
S
N
N
CH3
CH3
O
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
PO
LA
RIT
Y
MOL WEIGHT
Saturates Light-
Ends
Aromatics
Resins
Asphaltenes
CH3
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH3
CH3
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH3
• Hydrates:
Light-ends mixed with water solidify due to cooling at high pressure.
• Naphthenates:
Organic acids that solidify (with Ca2+) due to pressure / temperature / pH, or form tight emulsions (with Na+).
• Inorganic Scales:
Ions in water that solidify due to cooling, depressurization or mixing.
Multiphase Flow Challenges
Experimental Composition & Behavior
• Slugging:
Discontinuous liquid / gas flow during multi-phase flow due to bathymetry / fluid velocities
• Viscosity:
High pumping requirements associated to the presence of acids, asphaltenes, solids or emulsions
• Emulsion / Foams:
Stabilization of water-oil interface / gas-liquid interface by polar components or solids
S
N
N
CH3
O
CH3
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CH3
S
N
N
CH3
CH3
O
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
PO
LA
RIT
Y
MOL WEIGHT
Saturates Light-
Ends
Aromatics
Resins
Asphaltenes
CH3
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH3
CH3
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
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CH2
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CH2
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CH2
CH3
Flow Assurance Challenges
Experimental Composition & Behavior
FLOW ASSURANCE
ORGANICS
• Asphaltenes
• Waxes
MIXED
• Hydrates
• Naphtenates
INORGANICS
• Scales
MULTIPHASE
• Slugging
VISCOSITY
• Heavy Oil
• Solids
EMULSIONS
• Separability
FLUID DYNAMICS
SOLID FORMATION
Flow Assurance Brazil
Experimental Composition & Behavior
Biodegraded Oils
Heavy Oils
Naphthenic Oils
Lacustrine Waxy Oils
High Salinity Water
Asphaltenic Oils
High GOR Fluids
High CO2 content
Summary - Experimental
Experimental Composition & Behavior
• Fluid Composition (Geochemistry) defines the potential FA problems • Experimental work required to understand behavior (few standards)
Phase Envelopes
Models & Software for Equilibria & Flow
• Compositional data and lab experiments allow defining the equilibrium lines for all organic / inorganic solids
Hydrates vs Temp.
Waxes vs Temp.
Asphaltenes vs Press.
Kinetics of Solid Formation
Models & Software for Equilibria & Flow
• Deposition Rate for Waxes
• Agglomeration Rate for Hydrates
• Nothing well established for Asphaltenes / Scales
Fluid-Dynamic Simulators
Models & Software for Equilibria & Flow
• Commercial Steady State Tools (Prosper / Hysys / PIPESIM etc.)
• Transient Simulators (OLGA / FlowManager / MAST / LedaFlow / CFD etc.)
Multiphase Flow
Models & Software for Equilibria & Flow
• #1 PRESENTATION – RIGOBERTO MORALES (UTFPR)
Phase Envelopes
Models & Software for Equilibria & Flow
Liq-Vap Hydrates Scales Waxes Asphalt.
Understanding the
Phenomena
Thermodynamic
Equilibrium
Fluid-dynamic
Behaviour
Interaction with
water, chemicals,…
Agglomeration
CO2 / Heavy Oil
HPHT Kinetics
Re-Start
Summary - Modeling
Models & Software for Equilibria & Flow
• Models exist to describe behavior (lack of predicting ability) • Validity depends on how much we understand the phenomena
Field Architecture
Analysis Options for Control & Mitigation
• Field Architecture
Subsea processing (separation, boosting, compression etc.) acts as an enabler for longer tie-backs and can minimize the risks associated to Flow Assurance issues.
Integrated Asset Modeling is required to account for IPR changes
• Coupled reservoir – subsea – topsides simulations are required. Quick Assessment of subsea architecture?
Pressure-Related Issues
Analysis Options for Control & Mitigation
• Pressure Control
Difficult to avoid
Possible to “protect” the reservoir (water/gas injection)
• Subsea boosting
Temperature-Related Issues
Analysis Options for Control & Mitigation
• Temperature Control
Insulation
Electrical Heating
Hot Fluid Circulation
• Vertical Flow and bulk cooling associated to gas flow
• #2 PRESENTATION – ROBERTA PIRES (TECHNIP)
Control & Mitigation
Analysis Options for Control & Mitigation
• Temperature Control
Slurry Generation
Analysis Options for Control & Mitigation
• Temperature “Uncontrol”
COLD FLOW
Technologies to force fluids to quickly cool and generate all the solids in a controlled manner so that the slurry can be transported long distances
• Solid formation Black Box
• Stability in steady state and shutdown
HYDRAFLOW Concept, Heriott Watt U.
Chemical Treatments
Analysis Options for Control & Mitigation
• Inhibitors
Products to change the phase envelop (MEG vs Hydrates) or to reduce the nucleation rates or the aggregation tendency (dispersants)
• Placement via umbilicals over long distances
• Compatibility of products and among treatments
• Low dosage inhibitors
• HSE
Dissociation of Hydrate Plugs
Analysis Options for Control & Mitigation
• Depressurization
One-way or two-way depressurization is possible.
Hydrate Remediation skids for rigids.
• And Flexibles?
Active Heating for safe dissociation of plugs
ETH PiP / Technip
Oceaneering
Removal of Deposits
Analysis Options for Control & Mitigation
• Mechanical Removal
Pigging solutions to scrap waxes from walls (with by-pass)
Asphaltenes are not piggable (solvents required)
• Active heating to melt deposits?
• #3 PRESENTATION – REDA BOUMRA (ONESUBSEA)
• Monitoring Technologies
Control & Mitigation
Analysis Options for Control & Mitigation
Summary – Control & Mitigation
Analysis Options for Control & Mitigation
• Variety of methods to control FA challenges (room for improvement) • Instrumentation / Monitoring is key to keep the productivity
Flow Assurance
S
N
N
CH3
O
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
S
N
N
CH3
CH3
O
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
PO
LA
RIT
Y
MOL WEIGHT
Saturates Light-
Ends
Aromatics
Resins
Asphaltenes
CH3
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH3
CH3
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH2
CH3
Pre
ssu
re
Temperature
Experimental Composition & Behavior
Models & Software for Equilibria & Flow
Analysis Options for Control & Mitigation
• Summary
Summary – Flow Assurance
• Input data is not standardized. Cannot simply use composition, need to check behavior at the lab
• Modeling depends on how much we understand the phenomena
• Control and Mitigation
• FA does not define the final field architecture but can limit the options
• Subsea processing is beneficial for FA
• FA solutions are maybe a problem for other areas (compatibility)
• Balance between CAPEX / OPEX - Entering the solid formation region?
• Monitoring is key to assure optimal performance
Summary – R&D Opportunities
• Collaborative efforts under the ANP levy
Academia Supplier Operator
THANK YOU!