Subsea Flow Agent Composition Prevents Umbilical Plugging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subsea oil and gas production is hindered by deposition in tubing and flowlines, leading to reduced production capacity and economic losses due to the difficulty and expense of installing larger or additional production lines, with existing flow agents often causing issues with viscosity and plugging in umbilical lines.
Innovation Solution
A deposition-inhibiting composition comprising a surface-active component such as a phosphate ester, sulfurized olefin, or a combination thereof, a polyalkylene ester, and an imidazoline compound, which can be transported through umbilical lines without precipitating or blocking them, effectively dispersing asphaltenes, waxes, and other deposits to maintain flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing flow agents are used to reduce deposition in subsea flowlines, then deposition is reduced, but the agents cause high viscosity and plugging in umbilical lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the flow agent by using a specific combination of sulfurized olefin (0.1-10 wt%), phosphate ester (0.1-10 wt%), polyalkylene ester (0.1-10 wt%), and imidazoline compound (0.1-10 wt%). This parameter optimization allows the agent to reduce deposition effectively while maintaining low viscosity and preventing plugging in umbilical lines, resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and reliability maintenance.
2Productivity
If the diameter of production lines is increased to reduce bottlenecking, then flow capacity is improved, but installation cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of changing the physical parameter of line diameter, the patent changes the chemical parameter of the crude oil by introducing a deposition-inhibiting composition. This chemical modification allows the same diameter lines to achieve higher effective flow capacity by preventing asphaltene deposition and maintaining flow efficiency, thereby avoiding the need for expensive and complex line expansion projects.
3Productivity
If more flowlines are installed to increase production capacity, then flow capacity is improved, but installation expense increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and addresses the root cause of production capacity limitations - asphaltene deposition - by introducing a chemical composition that prevents deposition. This approach allows existing flowlines to operate at full capacity without the need for additional parallel lines, thereby achieving production capacity increases without the substantial capital expenditure required for installing new flowlines.
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 composition reduces deposition in subsea equipment, allowing for stable and efficient crude oil flow with lower viscosity and pressure requirements compared to existing products, preventing plugging and corrosion while maintaining stability over long distances.
Implementation Method 1
a surface-active component comprising a phosphate ester component, a sulfurized olefin component, or a combination thereof
Implementation Method 2
a polyalkylene ester; and an imidazoline compound... effectively dispersing asphaltenes, waxes, and other deposits to maintain flow
Data Source
AI summary
A deposit-inhibiting composition has been developed that provides an advantageous reduction in the deposits of solids in the near wellbore region, and in equipment and lines used for crude oil production and processing. The deposit-inhibiting compositions contain a surface-active component comprising a phosphate ester component, a sulfurized olefin component, or a combination thereof; a polyalkylene ester; and an imidazoline compound. The deposit-inhibiting compositions are particularly useful as flow agents for delivery to a subsea wellhead via an umbilical line.