TIME ZONES 1 & 2

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES

Chemical Engineering

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B41OA

OIL AND GAS PROCESSING

Semester 2 – 2016/17

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Friday, 5th May 2017

Duration: 2 Hours

Instructions to candidates:

Answer THREE questions in total.

(One from Section A, Two from Section B.)

Answer each Section in separate booklets.

Candidates are expected to make reasonable assumptions where necessary.

Marks shown in () at the side of each question are for indication only.

Candidates are expected to show all calculation steps, equations used and
assumptions made (if any).

Data sheets and SI Units Conversion Table are attached with this paper.
 B41OA

SECTION A

(Answer ONE question from this Section)

1. (a) Describe the chemical characteristics of asphaltenes.

(4 marks)

(b) With reference to asphaltenes, describe the formation and stability of

emulsions.
(4 marks)

(c) Describe and illustrate with an appropriate diagram the typical programme
for a scale inhibitor squeeze treatment and how the effective lifetime of the
squeeze is monitored.
(5 marks)

(d) A hydrocarbon condensate and produced water are to be transported via a

pipeline from the wellhead to the processing facility. The pipeline is to be
operated at such conditions that the condensate remains in the liquid phase
(that is, the pipeline pressure will be above the bubble point of the liquid).
The process engineer responsible for the pipeline assumes that the
operating conditions will prevent hydrate formation. Is the engineer
correct? Justify your conclusion.
(4 marks)

(e) Thermodynamic inhibitors are commonly used in the oil and gas industry to
prevent hydrate formation. Discuss the mechanism of inhibition, the typical
application of these inhibitors, and comment on their advantages and
disadvantages.
(8 marks)

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 B41OA

2. (a) A marginal gas field is produced via a tie-back to a third-party platform. The
subsea gas pipeline has inlet conditions of 364 K and 7.24 MPa. The gas
flowing through the pipeline is cooled to 276 K by the surrounding water.
The gas also experiences a pressure drop to 6.55 MPa. Gas exits the
pipeline at a rate of 1.23 x 106 sm3/d. Produced free water enters the
pipeline at a rate of 0.65 m3/d.

The gas composition is:

Mole MW
Fraction (kg/kmol)
C1 0.712 16.04
C2 0.135 30.07
C3 0.089 44.10
nC4 0.045 58.12
nC5 0.019 72.15

At the inlet, the gas has a water content of 9.60 kg H 2O/ksm3 gas, but at
the outlet, this has reduced to 0.15 kg H2O/ksm3 gas due to condensation.
(ksm3 = thousand standard cubic metres)

(i) Using the gas gravity method, determine the hydrate formation
temperature of the system.
(ii) Determine the weight percentage of methanol needed in the free-
water phase.
(iii) Assuming negligible inhibitor losses to the vapour and condensate
phases, determine the methanol injection rate that will prevent
hydrates in the pipeline.
(8 marks)

Cont…/

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 B41OA

/Cont…Q2

(b) For the same gas field, what other measures could be implemented to
prevent hydrate formation during the operational life of the field?
(5 marks)

(c) Discuss three methods for the prevention or inhibition of wax deposition in
a hydrocarbon production system.
(8 marks)

(d) For sulphate scales, discuss two of the following:

(i) the mechanism for sulphate scale formation;
(ii) where the sulphate scale may be formed;
(iii) how sulphate scale formation may be mitigated or removed.
(4 marks)

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 B41OA

FLOW ASSURANCE CHARTS AND EQUATIONS

Gas Gravity Method Chart

Hammerschmidt Equation
100𝑀𝑊𝐼 ∆𝑇
𝑊𝐼 =
(𝑀𝑊𝐼 ∆𝑇) + 𝐶𝐼

where: Cmethanol = 2335, CMEG = 2000

END OF SECTION A

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 B41OA

SECTION B

(Answer TWO questions from this Section in a separate booklet)

3. Your company has recently started operating a floating production system which
processes gas and oil from your client’s field. There are two primary separators
on board currently operating in series, with the oil from “S-10A” passing directly
into “S-20B”. The client says that the quality of the oil from S-10A is not as good
as it once was. Using the data below answer the following.

(a) Calculate the current oil and water residence time in S-10A.
(6 marks)

(b) Calculate the size of the water-in-oil droplets that are likely to leave S-10A
in the oil phase. Comment on this value with respect to the size normally
expected. Would this explain the client’s observation?
(6 marks)

(c) The client suggests dropping the oil-water depth so that the residence time
in the oil and water phases is the same, but the overall liquid level is kept
as it was at 2.4 m. Show by calculating the new depth of water and the new
residence time, that this proposal may work.
(8 marks)

(d) The separator vendor claims to have installed perforated plate baffles to
improve the separator’s performance. Describe the function of baffle plates
in separators and suggest any improvements you would recommend to
your client. Explain your reasons.
(5 marks)

Cont…/

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 B41OA

/Cont…Q3

Lss D Water Oil Water Rate Oil Rate

Depth Depth
m m m m m3/s m3/s
S-10A 15 3 1 2.4 0.08 0.3

Properties of liquid and gas phases

Gas Oil Water
Density (kg/m3) 40 890 990
Viscosity (cP) na 3.5 1.5

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 B41OA

4. With recent changes in US administration, approval for the new “Keystone XL oil
pipeline” has been sanctioned. Phase 2 connects Nebraska to Oklahoma and is
some 500 km in length, pipeline diameter 0.9 m. Oil flowrate is approximately
1.1 m3/s of oil, physical properties are given below. The land profile over which
this pipeline segment will travel is provided in the data book (attached to the end
of this paper). Using this information, answer the following.

(a) Determine the frictional pressure loss for the oil.

(3 marks)

(b) Using the supplied profile plot (see data book at the end of this paper), draw
on this diagram the friction loss line. Make the necessary adjustments so
that the delivery pressure exceeds 10 bar. Include the completed chart in
your answer book.
(5 marks)

(c) For this given pipe diameter, the maximum working pressure is 46 bar.
Determine the location and number of booster stations needed for this line.
(8 marks)

Cont…/

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 B41OA

/Cont…Q4

(d) Although the oil should be stabilised, there are several operational issues
that might affect the capacity of this pipeline.

(i) Explain what may happen to the internal pressure if there was gas
flowing alongside the oil.

(ii) Explain why deposits on the internal pipe wall can be an issue with
such long pipelines. Outline what methods you would expect to see
to combat this.

(iii) If the flowrate in the line had to be increased, explain what action you
can take in order to make this happen once the pipeline is in-service.
What challenges would you face with your recommendation?
(9 marks)
Physical properties
Density (kg/m3) Viscosity (cP)
Oil 890 2

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 B41OA

5. Produced water from the primary separation train on a platform is sent to a bank
of 72 deoiling hydrocyclones (i.e. 18 x 4 in 1 units). Oil content of produced water
is expected to be 1000 ppm, and the diameter of the hydrocyclone liner is 60 mm.
Based on reservoir simulation models, produced water flowrate is anticipated to
be on average 237700 bbl/day water but will range from 147100 bbl/day to
274200 bbl/day. The platform is the smallest of 3 production platforms producing
oil from the field. As a result, the platform is not normally manned. Physical
properties of the fluids are given below.

(a) Describe what other treatment systems could have been considered for this
platform, keeping in mind the platform’s size. Include a brief statement of
how these units work.
(5 marks)

(b) Describe how a “bank of de-oiling hydrocyclones” works to clean produced

water.
(5 marks)

(c) Using the “cyclone performance” charts found in the data sheet (provided
separately), determine the following:

(i) The concentration of oil in the cleaned produced water from the
cyclone bank at the current flowrate. Will this level satisfy current
limits to discharge the water into the environment?
(5 marks)

(ii) Will the same hydrocyclone package cope for the entire range of
water flowrates expected? What would you recommend if it did not?
(5 marks)

Cont…/

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 B41OA

/Cont…Q5

(d) Water to treat before disposal can come from other sources on the platform;
water from gas dehydration systems is one such source. Outline with the
aid of suitable diagrams, how water can be removed from gas streams.
Would you expect this water to be discharged into the environment?
(5 marks)

Physical properties (not all will be needed)

Oil gravity is 890 kg/m3, viscosity 6 cP, water density is 1010 kg/m3 and viscosity is
1 cP. Cyclone performance curve provided in the data book provided separately.

END OF PAPER

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