Offshore Hydrocarbon Production Platform Hydrate Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for transporting hydrocarbons over long distances are hindered by hydrate formation in pipelines, which leads to blockages and require costly solutions like heating, inhibitors, or complex pigging, making it economically unviable for marginal oil reservoirs.
Innovation Solution
A system that processes hydrocarbons to produce a semi-stable oil product, which remains in a single phase and avoids hydrate formation during transport, allowing for long-distance pipeline transport without heating or extensive processing facilities, using a host platform for storage and further stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If hydrocarbon fluid is transported through pipelines over long distances, then production can be sustained, but hydrates form and block the pipeline
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by processing the hydrocarbon fluid at the production platform before transportation to remove water and stabilize the oil. This preprocessing step prevents hydrate formation during long-distance pipeline transport by eliminating the water component that would otherwise combine with gas to form hydrates in the pipeline.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the hydrocarbon fluid through processing at the production platform. The oil is stabilized to specific density and compositional parameters that prevent hydrate formation during transport, allowing long-distance pipeline transportation without heating or inhibitor injection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If electric heating is used to prevent hydrate formation, then hydrate deposition is avoided, but installation and operational costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water component from the hydrocarbon fluid at the production platform through processing. By removing water before transportation, the harmful condition for hydrate formation is eliminated, making heating systems unnecessary and reducing device complexity and operational costs.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If hydrate inhibitors are added to prevent hydrate formation, then hydrate deposition is reduced, but larger amounts are needed for high water content and regeneration is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts water from the hydrocarbon fluid through processing at the production platform. By removing the water component that enables hydrate formation, the need for hydrate inhibitors is eliminated, reducing both the quantity of chemical substances required and the complexity of regeneration systems.
4Productivity
If marginal reservoirs are exploited with dedicated platforms, then each reserve can be produced independently, but equipment and personnel outlay is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single production platform that can process and stabilize oil from multiple marginal reservoirs. This consolidation allows several reservoirs to be exploited through one platform with shared processing equipment, reducing overall equipment outlay and personnel requirements while maintaining production capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The production platform is designed with universal processing capabilities that can handle hydrocarbon fluids from different marginal reservoirs. The platform's processing equipment can stabilize oil from various sources, making the platform multi-functional and reducing the need for dedicated equipment for each reservoir.
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
Enables the economical exploitation of marginal oil reservoirs by reducing processing and equipment needs, allowing for the transportation and storage of hydrocarbons over long distances without hydrate formation, thus enhancing the sustainability of hydrocarbon production operations.
Implementation Method 1
the production platform is configured to process the produced fluid to provide a semi-stable oil product suitable for exporting along the long distance pipeline
Implementation Method 2
such a mixture of fluid cannot be easily transported by pipeline, at least over long distances, because the multiple phases make it difficult to pump and because hydrates can form and block the pipeline
Data Source
AI summary
A system for hydrocarbon production comprising a host for receiving produced hydrocarbon; an offshore hydrocarbon production facility comprising: a production wellhead for connection to a subsea hydrocarbon reservoir; a production platform configured to receive produced fluid from the wellhead and being in fluid communication with the host via a long distance pipeline wherein the wellhead is local to the production platform, and the production platform is configured to process the produced fluid to provide a semi-stable oil product suitable for exporting along the long distance pipeline to the host; wherein the host is configured to store the semi-stable oil product.