Hydrate Inhibition

  1. Flow Assurance


Hydrate inhibition is normally associated with batch treatments for the processes of start-up and shut-down (planned or unplanned). Continuous injection also occurs when there is induced cooling likely due to chokes and the natural cooling of pipelines by the cold ambient temperatures of the seabed. Methanol is one of the most common hydrate inhibitors used, particularly for subsea wells and in arctic regions where rapid cooling of the produced fluid flow (gas and water) can cause hydrate formation. Methanol is injected into the tree and sometimes downhole just above the subsurface safety valve while the fluids are hot. Some subsea developments in the deepwater GoM area inject methanol at rates of 20% to 40% of the water production rate.

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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