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PIPELINES
TPG 4515
SPECIALIZATION COURSE
Department for Petroleum Engineering and Applied
Geophysics
6th MAY 2013
OUTLINE
Heat transfer in subsea pipelines
Consequences of heat transfer in subsea
pipelines
Methods to overcome the problems associated
by heat loss in subsea pipelines
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Subsea pipelines
Cooling in pipelines
Steady state flow: The fluid
temperature along the pipeline will
be constant at any location
20,50
20,40
T [C]
20,30
20,20
20,10
20,00
19,90
0,0000
0,2000
0,4000
0,6000
0,8000
1,0000
1,2000
1,4000
1,6000
1,8000
y [mm]
Akpabio M.G
(2013)
(Infochem 2012)
(Labes-Carrier 2007)
Direct heating
An AC is passed on pipeline wall to generate heat. The pipe is
an active conductor in a single-phase electric circuit, together
with a single core power cable as the forward conductor,
located in parallel with and close ("piggy-back") to the heated
pipe.
The longest single pipeline length operated with DEH today is
42 km (Tyrihans in the North Sea).
Direct heating
Important requirements for DEH are power supply,
pipe insulation, anode system, and pigg-back
cable.
Sacrificial Anords connects the heating system to
the surrounding sea water (that is, earthed) for
safety and reliability purposes. The sea water acts
as an electric conductor in parallel to the pipe
creating a transfer zone.
(Kulbotten 2008)
Guo.B et al.(2006)
Flowline bundles
Effectively engineered flowline bundles are attractive
configurations for deepwater field development,
because of their thermal performance and cost
effectiveness.
Well streams from Gullfaks South will be transported
through flowline bundles that can be warmed with hot
water to avoid hydrate formation and wax deposition
in the event of a shutdown. About 3MW of waste heat
is available from the gas turbines on Gullfaks A for this
purpose.
http://www.offshore-echnology.com/projects/gullfaks/
(retrieved 03/12/2013)
Discussion
Cold flow has not been applied on any field yet but in process
of developing for qualification.
Kondapi P (2013)
Discussion
Cost Estimate Comparison of the different technologies
Discussion
Tanzanian Field
Hydrate formation temperature around 20 0C
Pipeline distance to shore about 100 km for (Zafarani and
Lavani Statoil discovered reservoirs )
Water depth 2600-2500m
Reservoir fluid- Natural gas
Average sea temperature 10-15 0C, reservoir fluid 80-75 0C
Most expected problem due to pipeline cooling is hydrate
formation.
Conclusion
Heat loss in subsea pipelines can cause
formation of gas hydrates & wax and changes
production flow properties.
There are several method to fight back the
effects of heat transfer. Thermal methods
includes DEHS, Insulation and cold flow
technology
Several methods can be used in a single field
to ensure high efficiency operation.
Evaluations of different methods according to
Tanzania field requirement should be done
References
Akpabio M.G." Cold flow in long distance subsea pipelines, Master thesis 2013, NTNU Trondheim".
Gudmundsson, J.S. 2012 Flow Assurance Solids in Oil and Gas Production. Appendix A, B and C Water vapour
in Natural Gas. Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
Gudmundsson Jon S, 2013, ''Natural Gas Pipelines and Well'', lecture, NTNU, Trondheim
Gudmundsson, J.S, 2002, '' Cold Flow Hydrate Technology'', 4th International Conference on Gas hydrates,
Yokohama.
Guo B. Duan S, Ghalambor A. A simple model in predicling heat loss and temperature profiles in insulated
pipelines University of Louisiana, Lafayetee SPE production and operation February 2006.
Hoffmann, R. (2012): Longer and Colder: Wax Control for Long Step-Out Distances. Statoil Presentation at SPE
FA Workshop, 2012.04, pp 4-10.
Kondapi, P "Today's top 30 flow assurance technologies .Where do they stand".Offshore technology conference,
Huston Texas, USA 6-9 may 2013
Kulbotten, H. (2008): Direct Electric Heating (DEH) Basic Technology. SINTEF Energy Research, Presentation at
TEKNA, 21 22 October, 2008, pp 8-21.
Kulbotten, H. and Lervik, J.K. (2007): Direct Electrical Heating System for Preventing Wax and Hydrates in
Pipelines. SINTEF PROJECT MEMO, SINTEF Energy Research. NO-7465 ,Trondheim, Norway, pp 3-8.
Labes-Carrier, C. (2007): Hydrate Control: Design and Field Experience. Presentation at TEKNA conference
April 26. STATOIL ASA, pp 5.
Lervik J.K, Horald K, Ame N "Flow assurance by electrical heating". Proceeding of the twenty-third (2013) Intern
ational offshore and polar engineerimg Ancholage, Alaska, USA June 30- July 5 2013.
Lervik J.K, Martin A, Henry R, Terje L, Peter H ."Direct electrical heating as a method of preventing hydrate and
wax plug". Proceeding of 8th international offshore and polar engineering conference, Monstrial may 24-29 19
90.
Time, R. W. (2011): Flow Assurance and Multiphase Flow (Part II). University of Stavanger, Department of
Petroleum Engineering. Seminar Presented at Aker Solutions, Stavanger.