What’s New


New Flow Assurance Book


£138UK Pounds
Flow Assurance is becoming one of the most critical elements in the design and operation of oil and gas field developments. This is because the flow assurance issues such as hydrates, wax and slugging etc. have greater potential to occur in deepwater and long distance tie-backs with the necessity to
avoid flow path blockages, ensure the integrity of the production system and avoid unstable operating conditions. This requires consideration of these issues in greater levels of detail to enable proper control and management strategies to be developed. Numerous flow assurance mitigation technologies are being developed by oil operating, as well as contracting companies. 

The intension of this book is many fold but with the prime objective of providing a reference to the subject of Flow Assurance associated with the exploitation of oil and gas fields. It is hoped that the book also provides an understanding of thefundamentals as well as the state of the current art in Flow Assurance analyses associated with the design and operations of oil and gas fields in 2011. Where it has not been possible to provide detailed solution techniques due to the complexity of the mathematics thatrequire iterative computational techniques, simplified equations have been identified to enable a first order estimate solutions. This book can be used by both graduate and post graduate students, practicing process engineers and engineers in other disciplines that require an understanding of Flow Assurance, associated with reservoir oil and gas production, as well as lecturers in advanced study courses associated with academic training.

 

The book is structured to provide:
  • Flow Assurance for transporting reservoir production fluids between the reservoir and the host processing facility as well as providing the basics of oil and gas reservoirs and host processing facilities.
  • Flow Assurance is defined,
  • Reservoir production fluids discussed,
  • Economics considered and host processing facilities options presented.
  • Flow Assurance issues that are confronted in the development of oil and gas reservoirs/fields are evaluated in detail as well as methods presented to assist in the design and operations of systems such as:
  • o Production wells, manifolds, flow lines, pipelines and risers for subsea fields as well as onshore field development and operation for the life of these fields.
  • A practical case study in the development of flow assurance methods for an oil field is also included in this book. It is hoped that this case study illustrates the application of flow assurance solution methods as guidance for practicing engineers, project managers and investment institutions or individuals that are involved directly or indirectly in the exploitation of oil and gas fields either onshore or offshore.
  • The complexities of multiphase flow have been discussed along with the evaluation of each of the main flow assurance issues that are required for the design and operation of the transportation systems.
  • Subsea technologies that provide the economic value for offshore reservoir exploitation have been summarised.
  • A chapter dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of releasing hydrocarbons into the atmosphere.

 
It is hoped that the readers of this book enjoy the scientific and engineering methodologies presented in the required flow assurance philosophies for the safe and economic exploitation of oil and gas fields and the associated environmental pollution reductions. Further that, young engineers can take some of the ideas presented and develop new innovations to take the energy sector well into the 21st century.
The Author.Dr. KS Johal (B.Sc., PhD, FEI)

 

Is the Managing Director of Fluids in Motion Limited, a consultancy company providing Flow Assurance expertise to Oil and Gas Operating and Contracting companies. He has over 35 years’ experience in providing specialist training and advisory services for the exploitation and development of Oil & Gas fields. Technical expertise in multi-phase flow dynamics related to the design and operational analysis of subsea facilities systems in the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico and the Middle/Far East. Specialist expertise in areas of multi-phase transients hydrates and wax / asphaltenes issues associated with subsea deepwater and onshore field developments. An exceptional academic background supported by practical experience of diverse projects worldwide, along with numerous publications at key conferences. Particular interests in developing novel and innovative technologies for subsea applications to solve difficult flow assurance problem areas and improve field development economics.

 

To purchase book

Contact the author and you will receive a signed copy:

(Dr. Kashmir Johal- Director)

Fluids in Motion Limited.

Kashmir@johal65.freeserve.co.uk

www.fluidsinmotion.com

0044(0)7730 852 333

0044 (0)8453922129

0044 (0)2083633696

 

Remember to provide your mailing address and the number of books required when ordering. To purchase remit £138.00 Please make payment via Paypal.

 

 

Contents
Section Page
Flow Assurance 0
From Reservoir to Host Processing Facility. 0
Preface 2
Copyright & Warranty 3
Contents 4
Chapter 1 10
1. INTRODUCTION 10
1.1 Fluids in Motion Limited (FIM): 11
Chapter 2 14
2.0 FLOW ASSURANCE, INDUSTRY OUTLOOK, ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENT 14
2.1 Common Flow Assurance Definitions 14
2.2 Industry Outlook 15
2.3 Economics 16
2.3.1 Local Infra-structure 16
2.3.2 Water Depth 16
2.3.3 Tie-Back Distance 16
2.3.4 Capital and Operating expenditure Costs 16
2.4 The Environmental Implications of Oil Production 18
Chapter 3 20
3 FROM RESERVOIR…… 20
3.1 Oil Formation 20
3.1 Finding the Oil 21
3.3 Traps 23
3.4 Reservoir Appraisal 24
3.5 Drive Mechanisms 24
3.6 Predicting Reservoir Fluids Characteristics 25
3.7 Reservoir Fluid Types 25
3.8 Fluids Characterization 26
Chapter 4 27
4 —— TO HOST PROCESSING FACILITY 27
4.1 Conventional Shallow Water Platform 27
4.2 Tension Leg Platforms 28
4.3 The SPAR Platform 29
4.4 Floating Production, Storage and Offshore Loading. 30
4.5 Summary of Platform Characteristics. 30
Chapter 5 32
5 TRANSPORTATION FLOW ASSURANCE ISSUES 32
5.1 Introduction: 32
5.2 Flow Assurance Issues: 33
5.2.1 Hydrates 33
5.2.2 Wax 34
5.2.3 Asphaltenes 35
5.2.4 Napthanates 36
5.2.5 Slugging 36
5.2.6 Corrosion 37
5.2.7 Erosion 37
5.2.8 Emulsions 38
5.2.9 Scales 39
Chapter 6 41
6 COMPLEXITIES OF MULTIPHASE FLOW 41
6.1 Introduction 41
6.2 Mathematical Model- Steady State Flow 43
6.2.1 One Dimensional Steady State Thermal Balance Equations: 46
6.2.2 One Dimensional Pipeline Cool Down: 51
6.2.3 One Dimensional Unsteady State Conduction: 55
6.2.4 Joule-Thompson Temperature Effects. 58
6.2.5 Multiphase Flow Correlations 61
6.2.6 Gas Properties: 64
6.2.7 Compositional Models and the Equations of State: 65
6.2.8 Thermal Heat Transfer 69
6.3 Transient State Mechanistic Models: 72
6.3.1 Development of Mechanistic Models: 73
6.4 Sensitivity of Multiphase parameters: 81
6.5 Uncertainties in Data & Limitations of Design Tools 84
6.5.1 Fluid Properties: 85
6.5.2 Reservoir Behaviour: 85
6.5.3 Well and Environmental Data: 85
6.5.4 Predictive Techniques: 85
6.6 Field Data Acquisition 86
6.6.1 Data Transmission / Collection: 87
6.6.2 Data Analysis: 87
6.6.3 Validation: 87
6.6.4 Further Efforts Required in R&D 87
6.7 Integrated Thermo-Hydraulics 88
6.8 Surge Analysis 89
6.9 Non- Newtonian Fluid Flow. 97
Chapter 7 100
7.0 EVALUATING FLOW ASSURANCE 100
7.1 Hydrates 100
7.1.1 Preventing Hydrates Through Operational Philosophies 102
7.1.2 Benefits of Laboratory Tests 104
7.2 Wax 106
7.3 Asphaltenes 110
7.4 Naphthenates 111
7.5 Slugging 113
7.6 Scales 115
7.7 Emulsions 116
7.8 Corrosion 118
7.9 Erosion 122
7.10 Computational Fluid Analysis for Subsea Production Systems. 127
Chapter 8 129
8 OFFSHORE FIELD DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS: 129
8.1 Introduction 129
8.2 Design Flexibility 130
8.3 Overcoming Operational Issues 130
8.4 Applying Operational Constraints 133
8.5 Reservoir Model 134
8.6 Subsea Production System 140
8.7 Subsea Production Equipment 141
8.8 Flowlines and Pipelines 144
8.9 Risers 145
8.10 Separators / Slug Catchers 147
8.11 Gas Release into the Atmosphere: 152
8.11.1 Gas Flare Design: 153
8.11.2 Gas Release and Dispersion. 159
Chapter 9 166
9 CASE STUDY: Concept Offshore Field Development: 166
9.1 Field Development Data: 166
9.2 Sizing of Pipeline and Risers. 170
9.3 Production Profiles Estimate. 171
9.4 Selection of Technology for the Development. 172
9.5 Flow Assurance Challenges and their Mitigation. 173
9.6 Pipeline Cool Down: 190
9.7 Pipeline Riser Warm-Up 192
9.8 Hot Oil Flushing and Surge Analysis. 193
9.9 Pipeline Depressurisation. 195
9.10 Flow Assurance Management. 196
9.10.1 Flow Assurance Strategy 196
9.10.2 Flow Assurance Management Plan 197
Chapter 10 209
10 NEW TECHNOLOGIES: 209
10.1 Potential Flow Assurance Solution Options: 209
10.2 Subsea Technologies: 210
10.3 Past Use Of Technologies: 211
10.4 Existing Subsea Technologies: 212
10.5 Future Subsea Technology Deployment Potential: 213
10.6 Subsea Technology Benefits: 213
10.7 Gas to Liquids Absorption Technology (GTLA): 214
10.7.1 Hydrates with GLTA: 214
10.7.2 Slugging with GTLA: 214
10.7.3 Pipeline Corrosion with GTLA: 215
10.7.4 Wax Deposition with GTLA: 216
10.7.5 Erosion with GTLA: 217
10.7.6 Scaling Potential with GTLA: 217
10.7.7 Emulsions Control with GTLA: 217
10.7.8 Operational Benefits of GTLA: 217
10.7.9 Cost Benefits of GTLA Vs Multiphase Production: 218
10.8 Other Flow Assurance Technologies: 219
10.8.1 Slug Control: 219
10.8.2 Subsea Processing: 221
10.8.3 VASPS- Vertical Annular Separation and Pumping System: 224
10.8.4 Other Subsea Separation and Pumping System: 224
10.8.3 Subsea Multiphase Pumping: 225
10.8.4 Subsea Multiphase Metering: 227
10.8.5 Subsea SWAG: 228
10.8.6 Subsea SINTEF-BP Cold Flow System: 228
10.8.7 Subsea Raw Water Injection Systems: 229
10.8.8 Technology Flow Assurance Versus Benefit Map: 230
Chapter 11 232
11.0 GAS OPTIONS FOR OFFSHORE FIELDS 232
11.1 General: 232
11.2 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) 233
11.3 Liquefied Natural Gas 235
11.4 Gas to Liquids or GTL 235
11.5 Stranded gas 236
11.5 Technological Challenges: 238
11.6 Current Industry Options to Minimize Gas Flaring 238
11.7 Other Technologies for Gas Handling: 239
11.7.1 Flare Gas Recovery (FGR) 240
11.7.2 Gas to Wire (Power Generation): 241
11.7.3 Compact GTL Reformers: 242
11.7.4 Compact GTL: 242
11.8 New FIM Zero Gas Flare Concepts 243
11.8.1 Gas Absorption, Pumping and Transport: 244
11.8.2 Gas Absorption and Stored Transport via a Vessel: 245
11.9 Options for Small Fields Offshore 245
11.10 Options for Larger Fields Offshore 245
11.11 Ranking of Zero Gas Flare Technologies 246
11.12 Summary of Flared Gas Options 247
Chapter 12 250
12.0 SOFTWARE 250
12.1 Field Options Program: 251
12.2 Gas Release: 255
12.3 Flare Stack: 257
12.4 LiqNet: 259
12.5 GasNet: 263
12.6 TranGas: 270
12.6 Quick Surge: 273
REFERENCES: 279
INDEX: 284