CBEN408 06 Field Operations Inlet Receiving

Field Operations & Inlet Receiving
Chapter 8
Updated: January 4, 2019
2
Copyright © 2019 John Jechura (jjechura@mines.edu)
Topics
Field Operations
▪ Wellhead operations
▪ Piping
▪ Compressor stations
▪ Pigging
Inlet Receiving
▪ Separator principles
▪ Slug catcher configurations
Gas Hydrates

3
Field Operations

Plant Block Schematic
Adapted from Figure 7.1,

Fundamentals of Natural Gas Processing, 2nd ed.
Kidnay, Parrish, & McCartney

5
GOSP
Gas-Oil Separation Process
(GOSP) for removing gas from
high pressure oil well.
Associated gas is almost always
saturated with water.
▪ Either dehydration (usually
glycol dehydration, see
Chapter 11) or…
▪ hydrate inhibitors (see section
8.3) are added to prevent
hydrate formation.


6
Compression station (Booster Station)
Condensed liquids may be stored or returned to the line
Some locations may have dehydration or sweetening facilities


7
Pigging
▪ Provides a barrier between
liquid products using the same
pipeline
▪ Check wall thickness and find
damaged sections of lines
▪ Remove debris such as dirt and
wax from lines
▪ Provide a known volume for
calibrating flow meters
▪ Coat inner pipe walls with
inhibitors
▪ Remove condensed hydrocarbon
liquids and water in multiphase
pipelines
Courtesy of Girard Industries

8
Instrumented Pigs
from GmbH

9
Pig Launcher & Receiver
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbOL0j9G6Zw

10
Inlet Receiving

Gas-Liquid Separators
Final protection for downstream equipment
Either vertical or horizontal
Vessel has four stages of separation:
▪ Primary Separation
▪ Gravity Settling
▪ Coalescing
▪ Liquid Collecting

12
Gas-Liquid Separators

13
Typical 3-phase Separator
From: Natural Gas Production/Dehydration, J.W. Williams Inc.

14
Inlet Receiving (Slug Catchers)
Protect plant from large, sudden liquid influxes
Two kinds
▪ Manifolded piping
• Good for high pressures, open space
• Still require liquid storage
▪ Large vessels
• Good at lower pressures
• Combines slug catching and liquid storage
Adequate liquid storage needed in both kinds

15
Harp Design Slug Catcher
Figure 8.16,

16
“A new approach for sizing finger-type (multiple-pipe) slug catchers”

H. R. Kalat Jari, P. Khomarloo, & K. Ass
http://www.gasprocessingnews.com/features/201506/a-new-approach-for-sizing-finger-type-(multiple-pipe)-slug-catchers.aspx

17
Ref: http://www.statoil.com/en/OurOperations/pipelines/Documents/veien_til_lng_engelsk_enkel.swf

18
Gas Hydrates

Hydrates: Problems/Issues
Solid hydrate can cause:
▪ Plugging in pipelines and process equipment
▪ Freezing of valves/relief valves www.methanegashydrates.org
▪ Damage to piping due to solid material flowing at high velocities

▪ Contained energy, dangerous when they heat up and gas evaporates
Commonly found:
▪ Oil/gas applications
▪ Bottom of ocean
▪ Arctic climates under permafrost
www.pet.hw.ac.uk

20
What are gas hydrates?
Ice-like solids which can form well
above 32oF.
Natural gases form in one of three
structures but most commonly in
Structure II.
Hydrate forming gases include: N2,
O2, C1 through iC5, H2S and CO2.
Hydrate formation conditions
highly dependent upon gas
Courtesy of USGS
composition. Figure 8.11
▪ Propane content is a major factor.

21
Hydrates: Structures
www.pet.hw.ac.uk

22
What do they form?
Either of three crystalline structures
Structure I Structure II Structure H

Waters per unit cell 46 136 34
Small Large Small Large Small Med Large
Cages per unit cell 6 2 8 16 3 2 1
Average cage radius, 39.1 43.3 39.0 46.8 39 4.1 5.7
nm
Gases fitting into N2,O2, N2,O2, N2,O2, N2,O2, N2,O2, N2,O2, N2,O2,
cages C1,H2S C1,H2S,C C1,H2S C1,H2S,C C1,H2S C1,H2S C1,H2S,C
O2,C2 O2, C2,C3, O2, C2,C3,
iC4,C4 iC4,C4, iC5

23
Predicting Hydrate Formation
Two factors in hydrate formation:
Thermodynamics
▪ Equilibrium formation temperature and pressure
▪ PREDICTABLE
Kinetics
▪ Initiation and rate of growth
▪ UNPREDICTABLE

26
Methods for Predicting Equilibrium Formation
Temperature and Pressure
Gas gravity curve (Katz, 1945)
▪ Advantages
• Quick & simple
▪ Disadvantages
• Poor accuracy
• Valid for pure water only
Statistical Mechanics (van der Waals and Plateeuw, 1959)
▪ Advantages
• Most accurate
• Handles salts, MeOH, EG
▪ Disadvantages
• Complex & requires computer for calculations

27
Hydrate forming
conditions
Figure 8.13
Figure 8.12
Below 1000 psia:
+ 13.8 ln( P psia)
6.83
t  o F  = −16.5 −
g
2

28
Avoid hydrate complications
If prediction shows that the plant or pipeline will be operating
within the hydrate formation region, what can you do??
▪ Change operating conditions so you are outside the hydrate formation
region
▪ Dehydrate the gas
▪ Add hydrate inhibitors

29
Chemical inhibitors for hydrates
Advantages
▪ Used properly, they work
Disadvantages
▪ Cost
▪ Determining proper dose
▪ Injection site may be at a remote location
• Transportation to site and possible dealing with hazardous materials}
▪ Possible interaction with other additives (such as corrosion inhibitors)
▪ Possible problems with downstream processes

30
Classes of chemical hydrate inhibitors
Antiagglomerates (AA)
▪ Prevent small particles form grouping into larger particles
Kinetic
▪ Interfere with construction of cages
Thermodynamic
▪ Freezing point depression
▪ Mainly methanol and ethylene glycol (antifreeze)

31
Hammerschmidt equation (1939)
Estimate the concentration of hydrate inhibitor in the water phase to decrease
the hydrate forming temperature a specified amount
2335 Wi ( T )°F Mi
( T )°F =  Wi =
Mi (1 − Wi ) ( T )°F Mi + 2335
where: ΔT is the hydrate depression temperature difference

Mi is the molecular weight of the inhibitor
Wi is the mass fraction inhibitor in the free water phase
Example – what concentration methanol (32 mol wt) will provide 20oF
subcooling into the hydrate region?
( T )F° Mi (20 ) ( 32 ) = 0.215

Wi = =  21.5 wt%
( T )F° Mi + 2335 (20 ) ( 32 ) + 2335

32
Nelson & Bucklin equation (1983)
Estimate the concentration of hydrate inhibitor in the water phase to decrease
the hydrate forming temperature a specified amount
( T )°F = −129.6 ln( xw )
where: ΔT is the hydrate depression temperature difference
xw is the mole fraction water in the free water phase
Example – what concentration of methanol (32 mol wt) will provide a 20oF
subcooling into the hydrate region?
 ( T )F°   20 
xw = exp   = exp   = 0.8570
 − 129.6   −129.6 
WMeOH =
xMeOHMMeOH
=
(1 − 0.8570 )( 32 ) = 0.229  22.9 wt%
xwMw + xMeOHMMeOH ( 0.8570 )(18 ) + (1 − 0.8570 )( 32 )

33
Kinetics of hydrate formation
Hydrate onset is stochastic and unpredictable
Subcooling always occurs
▪ Usually can operate 2 to 4oF into hydrate region without problem
Factors affecting onset and kinetics:
▪ Amount of subcooling
▪ Presence of liquid water
▪ Presence of nucleation sites, e.g., scale, wax, asphaltenes
▪ Flow rates
▪ Presence of other hydrocarbon phases
▪ “History” of water phase

34
How To Prevent Hydrate Formation
Operate outside of hydrate region Dry the gas - avoid free liquid water
▪ Advantages ▪ Advantages
• Good where practical • Safest
▪ Disadvantages ▪ Disadvantages
• Frequently impractical • Frequently impractical
• Heating systems are expensive • Dehydration expensive, CAPEX &
and must be robust OPEX
• lowering pressures likely requires • CO2, NOx, BTEX emissions
recompression
Add equilibrium inhibitors
▪ Alters temperature and pressure of
hydrate formation
Add Low Dosage Inhibitors (LDI)
▪ Alters rate of formation (kinetic
inhibitors) or prevents
agglomeration
36
Effect of Methanol on Hydrate Formation
Conditions
10000
Wt % Methanol
74 65 50 35 20 10 0
Pressure, psia
1000
100
-100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80
Temperature, ºF
37
Comparison of kinds of inhibitors
Equilibrium Low Dosage
MeOH EG KI AA
Applicability Universal Universal Site Specific, <20 Site Specific,
°F Subcooling Liquid HC phase
present
Time Dependence None None Delay’s formation Prevents
agglomeration
Unit Cost Cheap Cheap Expensive Expensive
Amount Needed 20 to 50 Wt% 20 to 50 Wt% ~0.5 Wt% ~0.5 Wt%
Compatibility ???? ???? ???? ????
Environmental Toxic Toxic, Oil & Good ????
Grease
Volatility High Low Low Low
Processing Issues Recovery? Recovery? None Break emulsion

39
Using Inhibitors
Factors determining injection rate:
▪ Maximum subcooling (include brine effect)
• Determines inhibitor concentration
▪ Amount of free and condensing water present
• Determines injection rate for treating water
▪ Hydrocarbon flow rate
• If gas phase present, must include vapor losses for MeOH
• If condensed hydrocarbon phase present, must include inhibitor losses

40
Summary – How Can Hydrates Be Prevented
When practical, operate outside of hydrate region or avoid free
water in system.
Add equilibrium inhibitors, MeOH or EG
▪ Many costs associated with this option and it may not be available in
future.
Add LDI, KI at low subcooling, AA at higher subcooling
▪ Emerging and attractive technology, but need to verify effectiveness
No matter which option is chosen, remember hydrate inhibitors
must be compatible with other inhibitors.

41
How To Remove Hydrates
Onboard/onshore process equipment
▪ Shut-in, depressurization and warm-up
Well and pipeline plugs
▪ Learn what happened prior to plugging and possible cause
▪ Locate plug by altering line pressure
▪ Determine best route, MeOH injection, heating, depressurization
• Beware of JT cooling, safety issues.
▪ Decide restart procedure, including removal of water

42
Is there anything good about hydrates?
Very large potential source of C1 from C1-hydrates on ocean floor
Inexhaustible source of research projects for graduate students

43
Summary

Summary
Field Operations
▪ Initial gas, oil, & water separations at the well site
▪ May have field compression to get gas to the processing location
Gas Gathering System
▪ Need to design for multiphase flow
▪ Pigging very common
Inlet Receiving
▪ Final protection for downstream equipment
▪ Need to have volume to contain & bleed off slugs of liquids
Gas Hydrates
▪ Try to prevent either by thermodynamic or kinetic inhibitors

45
Supplemental Slides

Approximate operating Ranges of mist
eliminators
Courtesy of ACS Industries

Copyright © 2019 John Jechura (jjechura@mines.edu) 47
Droplet capture efficiency
Courtesy of ACS Industries

Gas wells with condensate tank & fired
separators
Figure 8.2

49
Booster station
Courtesy of Wind River Environmental Group

50
Automated Ball Launcher
From Kimmitt, et al., 2001

Inlet Receivers with Pigs

52
Inlet receivers (slug catchers)
Figure 8.18

Multiple Slug Catcher
Liquid volume 500 bbls, nominal gas rate 206MMscfd

Kimmitt et al., 2001

54
Gas Well with Separator and Tankage

55
Gas Wells and Metering
Courtesy of the Williams Companies

56
Como Ball Receiver

G-Line Pig Receiver

58
H-Line Pig Receiver

59
Inlet Facilities

Remote automated pig launcher
Figure 8.8

61
Smart pig removed from receiver
Figure 8.9
Smart pig being removed from pig receiver. The pig uses magnetic flux to detect corrosion and
mechanical damage in pipeline wall. (Courtesy of ROSEN Group)
62
Aerial view of slug catcher
Courtesy of The Williams Companies


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Field Operations & Inlet Receiving

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Adapted from Figure 7.1,

Updated: January 4, 2019

Adapted from Figure 8.1,

Updated: January 4, 2019

Adapted from Figure 8.4,

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

From: Natural Gas Production/Dehydration, J.W. Williams Inc.

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

“A new approach for sizing finger-type (multiple-pipe) slug catchers”

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

▪ Damage to piping due to solid material flowing at high velocities

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Structure I Structure II Structure H

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

where: ΔT is the hydrate depression temperature difference

( T )F° Mi (20 ) ( 32 ) = 0.215

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Courtesy of ACS Industries

Updated: January 4, 2019

Courtesy of ACS Industries

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Courtesy of Wind River Environmental Group

Updated: January 4, 2019

From Kimmitt, et al., 2001

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Updated: January 4, 2019

Liquid volume 500 bbls, nominal gas rate 206MMscfd