Dispersing Agent Prevents Surge Waves in Gas Condensate Flowlines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Three-phase surge wave instabilities in gas condensate flowlines lead to reduced gas production, liquid handling issues, hydrate formation, and operational restrictions due to slip between aqueous and condensate phases, which are not observed in two-phase flowlines.
Innovation Solution
Adding a dispersing agent to either phase to disperse the aqueous phase in the condensate phase or vice versa, creating a two-phase system-like behavior that prevents surge wave instabilities by eliminating slip between the phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a dispersing agent is added to disperse the aqueous phase in the condensate phase, then surge wave instabilities are prevented and flow stability is improved, but the system complexity and chemical addition requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A dispersing agent is introduced as an intermediary substance to mediate between the aqueous phase and condensate phase. The dispersing agent reduces interfacial tension and promotes uniform dispersion, preventing slip between phases that causes surge wave instabilities. This intermediary substance enables stable two-phase-like behavior in the three-phase system without requiring complex mechanical or operational modifications.
2Productivity
If the pressure in the flowline is reduced to expand gas and drag liquid, then minimum flow rate is reduced and production is prolonged, but the receiving pressure must be reduced which comes with a cost and has a limit
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the flow regime parameter from three-phase flow to dispersed two-phase-like flow by adding a dispersing agent. This parameter change in flow behavior allows the system to operate at lower flow rates without surge wave instabilities, effectively reducing the minimum flow rate requirement. The gas expansion mechanism remains the same, but the flow stability improvement enables more aggressive pressure reduction strategies to extend production.
3Productivity
If production rate is reduced below the minimum flow rate, then more gas can be produced from the field, but surge wave instabilities occur causing liquid handling problems and operational restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The dispersing agent is added in advance to the three-phase mixture before it enters the flowline, creating a stable dispersed flow pattern proactively. This preliminary action prevents surge wave instabilities from developing, allowing the system to reliably operate at reduced production rates and extract more gas from the field without encountering liquid handling problems or operational restrictions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach increases total production rates, reduces minimum flow rates, stabilizes flow, decreases hydrate problems, and eliminates operational restrictions by converting the three-phase system into a two-phase system-like behavior, allowing for lower flow rates and improved regularity.
Implementation Method 1
a dispersing agent is added to the three phase gas condensate which is able to disperse the aqueous phase in the condensate phase or the condensate phase in the aqueous phase
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a process for the prevention or reduction of surge wave instabilities during the transport in a flowline of a three phase gas condensate comprising a gas phase, an aqueous phase and a condensate phase, characterized in that a dispersing agent is added to the three phase gas condensate which is able to disperse the aqueous phase in the condensate phase or the condensate phase in the aqueous phase, and a means for the prevention or reduction of surge wave instabilities during the transportation of a three phase gas condensate.