EG55F8/G8 Flow Assurance 2017/18 Continuous Assessment

Design of a Subsea Pipeline System

Background
A subsea pipeline is to be designed to transport fluids from 4 subsea production wells to a host
platform. Peak liquid flow from the four wells is 3280 (standard) sm3/day. Dry oil and associated gas
(no significant water) is expected for the first 3 years.

The wellhead temperature is constant at 45 °C. To avoid excessive back pressures on the reservoir
the wellhead pressure is set at 22.4 bara maximum.

The fluid has to be delivered to the topsides at a minimum pressure of 11.2 bara - 1st Stage
Separator entry. If the arrival pressure is below 11.2 bar the wells will not flow. The existing 1st
stage separator can be fitted with a slug catcher facility.

Laboratory experiments have shown the wax appearance temperature to be 25 °C. If the fluids
within the pipeline are below the wax appearance temperature significant wax deposition on the
pipeline will occur: this is to be avoided.

The need for gas lift is unknown but to be established.

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EG55F8/G8 Flow Assurance 2017/18 Continuous Assessment

Assignment
As a flow assurance engineer, you are asked to make and initial design of the pipeline. Specific
deliverables are as follows:

1. Identify suitable pipeline internal diameter - assume a wall thickness of 0.0127 m and
roughness of 0.0254 mm. Line sizes to be considered are 0.292 m, 0.343 m, and 0.394 m
internal diameter. Assume an initial U-value of 10 W·m-2·K-1 and evaluate the pipeline
pressure distance profile for (3280, 2460, 1640 and 820) sm3·day-1. That is for 4, 3, 2 and 1
well flowing in the pipeline.
2. Confirm that the identified line size is acceptable from an erosion viewpoint.
3. Establish an insulation level (overall heat transfer coefficient, U value) for the pipeline by
considering the management of both wax and hydrates.
4. Establish the insulation configuration (type of insulation, thickness of insulation etc.)
required to achieve your selected OHTC.
5. Review the design for terrain-induced (hydrodynamic) and severe slugging. Check the
design for 1 and 4 well operation. Size a slug catcher that can handle the largest expected
slugs in your system.
6. Towards the end of field life the maximum production rate will remain at 3280 sm3/day but
the produced fluids will be 90% water. With respect to pressure drop, establish the impact
this will have on the proposed design and identify whether lift gas will be required
7. Discuss other operational modes which should be addressed prior to finalising the pipeline
architecture

You should prepare a report presenting the work which you have undertaken. The report should
have the following structure:

• Introduction
• Base Data
• Deliverable 1. Methodology, results & discussion.
• Deliverable 2. Methodology, results & discussion.
• Deliverable 3. Methodology, results & discussion.
• Deliverable 4. Methodology, results & discussion.
• Deliverable 5. Methodology, results & discussion.
• Deliverable 6. Methodology, results & discussion.
• Deliverable 7. Methodology, results & discussion.
• Conclusions
• References
• Appendices

Your report should be no more than 10 pages in length, excluding References and Appendices.

Method of Submission
Both campus and online learning students must submit their work electronically. Campus students,
in addition, should also submit a hard-copy of their work.

• Electronic submission. via MyAberdeen

• Hard copy submission. Postgraduate assignment submission box, Room 188, Fraser Noble
Building

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EG55F8/G8 Flow Assurance 2017/18 Continuous Assessment

Note that all submitted work must be accompanied by a signed Continuous Assessment Coversheet.
Work submitted without the coversheet will not be marked. Assignment coversheets are available
on all course and programme areas on MyAberdeen.

Submission Deadline
12pm (noon/midday), Friday March 30th 2018.

Technical Data
Pipeline Layout
Oil and gas flow for 5000 m horizontally then for the next 5000 m the flow is downwards dropping
15 m to the riser base. The riser is 200 m vertical pipe to the platform production deck. Assume
that the rate of undulations is zero (Pipesim input).

Boundary Conditions
Boundary Condition Value
Fluid inlet pressure at wellhead 22.4 bara
Fluid inlet temperature at wellhead 45.0 °C
4-well liquid flow rate 3280 sm3·day-1
Maximum turndown 820 sm3·day-1
Minimum arrival pressure at platform 11.2 bara
Arrival temperature at platform To be determined
Pure Hydrocarbon Components
Components Mole %
Methane (C1) 54.50
Ethane (C2) 4.40
Propane (C3) 2.60
Isobutane (IC4) 0.63
Butane (NC4) 0.13
Isopentane (IC5) 0.67
Pentane (NC5) 0.83
Hexane (NC6) 2.70
Petroleum Fraction
Name Boiling Point / °C Molecular Weight / g·mol-1 Specific Gravity Mole %
C7+ 101.1 115 0.683 31.54
Aqueous Component
Component Quantity
Water Initially 2 mol % increasing to 90 vol%
Ambient Sea Temperature
4.0°C

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EG55F8/G8 Flow Assurance 2017/18 Continuous Assessment

Sand Production
Sand with a grain size of 0.25 mm is expected to be produced at a rate of 20 ppm.

Hydrate Formation
To be determined.

Wax Formation
Wax appearance temperature (WAT) is 25.0 °C. Significant was deposition is expected to occur if
pipeline fluids fall below this temperature.

Methods
Use the Beggs and Brill revised correlation for both vertical and horizontal flow. Use the Multiflash
equation of state for system thermodynamics.

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