Chemicals Injection

  1. Flow Assurance


Fluid problems in deepwater are critical issues (such as colder seabed temperatures, producedwater, condensates, paraffin, and asphaltene contents in the oil) that can compromise the viability of a development project. To remedy that concern, chemicals are being increasingly relied on for production assurance. The use of chemicals in offshore oil production processes is not a new approach. Some of the chemicals used are corrosion inhibitors, workover/packer fluids (weighted clear fluids, bromides, chlorides, etc.), hydrate and paraffin inhibitors, defoamers, solvents (soaps, acids), glycol, and diesel. These chemicals are typically used for batch treatments, small-volume continuous injections, and remedial treatments such as workover operations. Material safety data sheets are required for all chemicals used offshore. Corrosion inhibitors are used to protect carbon-steel components of the production systems that are wetted by the produced fluids. Material selection is a critical factor in the proper design of a production system, requiring information about the composition of the produced fluids.

References

  • C. Haver, Industry and Government Model for Ultra-Deepwater Technology Development, OTC 2008, Topical Luncheon Speech, Houston, 2008.
  • C.W. Burleson, Deep Challenge: The True Epic Story or Our Quest for Energy Beneath the Sea, Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, Texas, 1999.
  • M. Golan, S. Sangesland, Subsea Production Technology, vol. 1, NTNU (The Norwegian University of Science and Technology), 1992.
  • Minerals Management Service, Deepwater Gulf of Mexico 2006: America’s Expanding Frontier, OCS Report, MMS 2006-022, 2006.
  • J. Westwood, Deepwater Markets and Game-Changer Technologies, presented at U.S. Department of Transportation 2003, Conference, 2003.
  • FMC Corporation, Subsea System, http://www.fmctechnologies.com/en/SubseaSystems.aspx, 2010.
  • H.J. Bjerke, Subsea Challenges in Ice-Infested Waters, USA-Norway Arctic Petroleum Technology Workshop, 2009.
  • International Standards Organization, Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries-Design and Operation of the Subsea Production Systems, Part 1: General Requirements and Recommendations, ISO, 2005, 13628-1.
  • International Standards Organization, Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries-Design and Operation of the Subsea Production Systems, Part 6: Subsea Production Control Systems, ISO, 2000, 13628-6.
  • M. Faulk, FMC ManTIS (Manifolds & Tie-in Systems), SUT Subsea Awareness Course, Houston, 2008.
  • C. Horn, Flowline Tie-in Presentation, SUT Subsea Seminar, 2008.
  • S. Fenton, Subsea Production System Overview, Vetco Gray, Clarion Technical Conferences, Houston, 2008.
  • P. Collins, Subsea Production Control and Umbilicals, SUT, Subsea Awareness Course, Houston, 2008.


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