22.11.2005 1

Multiphase flow and flow assurance in arctic waters – an institute view

Jan Nossen, IFEWashington DC, November 2, 2005

22.11.2005 2

Field Development Challenges in Arctic Waters

• Technical needs:• Multiphase transportation• Flow assurance• Subsea processing

• Arctic water challenges:• Very low temperatures• Ultra-long transport distances• Deep water

22.11.2005 3

The road goes ever on and on

Ekofisk Ormen Lange Shtokman

The Road goes ever on and onDown from the door where it beganNow far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can

JRR Tolkien

22.11.2005 4

Potential of R&D

• Would Snøhvit and Ormen Lange have been possible without heavy investments in R&D and development of the OLGA code?

• Probably not!

Flow loop at IFE

22.11.2005 5

Institute for Energy Technology(IFE)

Tracer technology

Process and fluid flow

Corrosion technology

• Norway’s largest Energy research lab• Oil & gas, new energy systems, nuclear

technology and safety• Turnover: 80mill. US$• Focus on technology spin-offs

• Oil & gas technology R&D within • Exploration and improved oil recovery • Field development based on sub-sea

multiphase flow technology• Flow assurance• e-Field operations and work processes• Advanced experimental facilities

22.11.2005 6

Multiphase flow

• Pressure drop/flow capacity• Accumulation of liquids

in gas condensate systems• Flow stability

(slugging or long surges)• Thermal management• Precipitation & transport

of solids• Corrosion

22.11.2005 7

Flow assurance in cold and deep waters

• Solids• Hydrates

• Hydrate plugs• Hydrate slurry flow

• Wax deposition• Scale

• High viscosity• Heavy oils• Emulsions

Picture: Aker

Picture: SPT

Picture: Statoil

Picture: Statoil

22.11.2005 8

Projects

22.11.2005 9

The HORIZON R&D programme

• Objective: To develop next generation OLGA code for pipeline and well design and operation• A 3½ year JIP at 2.5 mill. US$/year (from 2004)• Co-operation between IFE and Scandpower PT• 5 participating oil companies:

Chevron, ENI, ExxonMobil, Shell and Statoil

• Challenge: Enable long distance transport of well streams

OLGA OLGA2000 HORIZONOPUS

1980 2010

22.11.2005 10

HORIZON: The Next Generation OLGAModular architecture

Dynamic well analysis

Open interfaces for external Flow Assurance models

New multiphase flow model based on

pre-integrated cross-sectional description

Flow Assurance

• Hydrate slurry transport• Sand transport• Wax

• Oil/water dispersions• Heavy oil emulsions and

thermo-hydraulics

22.11.2005 11

HORIZON Multiphase Flow Modelling

Challenge & philosophy• Model multiphase flow at optimal

level of complexity to obtain good accuracy and high efficiency

Model basis• New “pre-integrated” cross-

sectional mechanistic flow models with new turbulence models

• New 2-3D cross-sectional flow details available for flow assurance models

22.11.2005 12

The hydrate challenge

• “Traditional” hydrate prevention• Thermal insulation – short pipelines• MEG moves system out of hydrate range• Widely used

• Large volumes – high costs• Heavy - capacity problems increase with water depth

• Alternative prevention: antiagglomerants• Allow hydrates to form – but flow as particles

• Rheology changed due to presence of particles• This may complicate operation

22.11.2005 13

Hydrate slurry flow modelling• Cross sectional model

• Particle distribution model• Rheology model gives local

rheology variation as function of local particle concentration

• Turbulence model• Velocity distribution model

• Particles concentrated towards pipe bottom

• Skewed velocity profile• More even distribution of particles

with increased velocity gives an apparent shear thinning

−0.025 −0.02 −0.015 −0.01 −0.005 0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.0250

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distance from pipe center m

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vertical velocity profiledata1horizontal velocity profilevelocity profile at 45 degrees particle concentration

Top of pipe Bottom of pipe

Vel

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22.11.2005 14

Hydrate slurry modelling – where to go?

• Apparent rheology in pipe flow not necessarily the same as obtained in a rheometer (due to settling)

• Measuring rheology is necessary for providinglocal rheology to the cross sectional model

• Local rheology may depend on parametershard to control, e.g. particle size distribution

• How to obtain a representative slurry in the lab?• Started 5-year “KMB” project with NRC/industry support

• Vacant post doc position – hydrate knowledge wanted

22.11.2005 15

Optimisation of MEG Loop design and operation

• A majority of offshore gas pipelines use MEG for corrosion & hydrate control

• Challenges with respect to design and operation

The Snøhvit field (Statoil)

• Product accumulation in the MEG loop• Produced salts• Corrosion products• Added chemicals

• Scale formation in heat exchangers, separators

• Controlled precipitationand particle removal

22.11.2005 16

“The MEG loop”

22.11.2005 17

The Kjeller MEG Loop project (KML)• Objective: Predict formation of scale and particles

in MEG (glycol) systems• Part I: Basic data and models

• New basic data on chemical equilibria and kinetics• Develop equilibrium and kinetic models for MEG loop

• Part II: Development of system simulator for MEG loop• Focus on precipitation and scale processes

• 3.5 year JIP, started mid 2005• 5 sponsors so far: AkerKværner (Part 1), BG

Group, ConocoPhillips, Statoil and Shell• Open for new participants

22.11.2005 18

Multiphase Flow Assurance Innovation Centre

(FACE)

A Centre for Research-based Innovation (CRI)

A co-operation between

IFE, SINTEF, NTNU

22.11.2005 19

FACE – Motivation and needs

People and education• Secure competence for the

petroleum cluster

Interdisciplinary synergy potential• New possibilities by combining

complementary knowledge on well fluid properties and transport processes

Industrial challenges• Tail production• Ultra-long transport (arctic)• Heavy Crude Oil production

Innovation • New knowledge and ideas will

become a basis for innovation in fluid management for multiphase transport

22.11.2005 20

FACE – Goals

• Establish a centre for flow assurance together with the industrial users

• Conduct research to promote innovation and new technical solutions for fluid management in multiphase systems

• Connect with international expertsfrom industry and academia

• Provide highly qualified personnel

22.11.2005 21

FACE – Scientific content

• Develop characterisation techniques and models for complex fluids to be used in multi-phase flow models

• Focus on the interaction between surface chemistry and flowing multiphase systems to improve the understanding of the physico-chemical processes in transport and separation

22.11.2005 22

Summary• Arctic water challenges :

• Cold and deep waters increase severity offlow assurance problems

• Very long distances to shore pose additional challenges• We believe the challenges can be

solved by intense R&D and innovation• USA and Norway jointly have world leading

knowledge giving us a competitive edge• BUT the challenges require new, interdisciplinary

efforts - particularly in the coupling between chemistry and fluid flow

• IFE wants to be an active partner in such efforts