Pre-charged Conduit Fluid Displacement for Offshore Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for displacing fluids in hydrocarbon production systems are costly and inefficient, particularly in offshore applications, due to the need for large, heavy equipment and high flow rates, which can overwhelm facilities and require significant chemical quantities.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing pre-charged storage conduits with treatment and barrier fluids, transferred by drivers to displace active fluids, allowing for efficient and cost-effective fluid displacement without forming hydrates or suspended solids, using a sequence of fluids to ensure complete displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high flow rates are used to effectively sweep flow lines of active fluids, then displacement effectiveness is improved, but facility overload and energy consumption worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The displacement process is divided into multiple sequential stages using different fluid types (inert fluid first, then treatment fluid, then displacement fluid). Each stage performs a specific function: inert fluid provides initial displacement without hydrate formation, treatment fluid addresses specific contamination issues, and displacement fluid completes the sweep. This segmentation allows each fluid to be optimized for its specific role rather than requiring one high-flow-rate fluid to do everything.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes fluid properties (composition, density, chemical characteristics) between stages rather than maintaining constant high flow rates. By using fluids with different physical and chemical parameters suited to each displacement stage, the system achieves effective displacement at lower, more sustainable flow rates that don't overwhelm facility capabilities.
2Productivity
If pigging is used to sweep production fluids, then displacement effectiveness is improved, but equipment complexity and cost worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for complex pigging equipment (launchers, receivers, pigs themselves) by replacing them with a simpler fluid-based displacement system. The core displacement function is achieved through carefully sequenced fluid injection rather than mechanical pigging, removing the associated equipment complexity while maintaining displacement effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Inert fluids serve as intermediaries that facilitate the displacement process without requiring mechanical pigging equipment. The inert fluid acts as a mediator between the production fluids and the subsequent treatment/displacement fluids, enabling effective displacement through chemical and physical properties rather than mechanical action.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If fully inert fluid is used as displacement fluid, then hydrate formation is prevented, but fluid velocity maintenance and chemical quantity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid system is segmented into three functional stages: inert fluid for initial displacement and hydrate prevention, treatment fluid for addressing specific contamination or chemical requirements, and displacement fluid for completing the sweep. This segmentation allows the inert fluid to be used only where and when needed for hydrate prevention, rather than requiring large quantities throughout the entire displacement process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to recover and reuse the inert fluid after it has performed its displacement function. By capturing and recharging the inert fluid for subsequent displacement operations, the system reduces the total quantity of chemicals required while maintaining the hydrate prevention benefits throughout multiple displacement cycles.
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
The system enables efficient displacement of fluids in hydrocarbon production systems, reducing costs and environmental impact by using pre-charged conduits and optimized fluid sequencing to ensure complete displacement without significant hydrate formation or fluid mixing, facilitating remote operation and reducing facility constraints.
Implementation Method 1
transferring a treatment fluid from at least one of the plurality of storage conduits towards or into the structure(s) to be displaced using a driver... transferring a barrier fluid from at least one of the plurality of storage conduits towards or into the structure(s) to be displaced using the at least one driver... and transferring the displacement fluid into the structure(s) to be displaced
Data Source
AI summary
The present techniques are directed to systems and methods for displacing a structure in a fluid handling system with a displacement fluid. A system includes a plurality of storage conduits that can hold a treatment fluid or a barrier fluid. The treatment and barrier fluids are transferred from the storage conduits by a displacement fluid using a driver.