Dry tree well flow assurance challenges and solutions for offshore gas condensate field development
Jeff Zhang A and Ian Kopperman AWood Group Kenny.
The APPEA Journal 54(2) 522-522 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ13095
Published: 2014
Abstract
Offshore field developments usually conceive that the dry tree wells (DTW) have less flow assurance challenges when compared with subsea development options. The relatively short vertical flow path for the DTW production risers causes fewer issues with respect to hydrate and wax management; however, the DTWs have particular flow assurance challenges due to dry tree well platforms design constraints. This extended abstract presents the various flow assurance challenges associated with the design and operation of DTWs for deepwater gas-condensate field developments, including:
the impact of production riser annulus thermal behaviour and soil modelling uncertainties on the topsides materials selection;
the coupling of low temperature propagation and cold liquid management issues topsides during cold well start-up; and,
the narrow operating window to establish the forward flow for the downstream systems following cold well start-up.
The absence of the capacity provided by subsea pipelines and flowlines, thus, leads to the requirement for integrated consideration of the DTWs and downstream topsides and potentially pipeline systems. The coupling for low temperature and liquid management issues, particularly for transient operations, requires rigorous flow assurance analysis. This extended abstract summarises the analytical solutions developed, applying the advanced flow assurance tools available, by considering the operating constraints, with the downstream process and export systems, to determine practical design solutions and operating philosophies.
Jeff Zhang is a senior flow assurance consultant who provides technical support, focusing on steady state and transient thermo-hydraulic analysis, liquids handling, hydrate management, wax management and MEG distribution system. He has taken part in project work at various stages of pre-FEED, FEED, detailed design and operational supports for both gas condensate and black oil systems. |
Ian Kopperman is a flow assurance engineering manager. He is a chartered chemical engineer with more than 10 years oil and gas experience in offshore, onshore and subsea projects, related to project, process and flow assurance engineering around the world. He has been the lead flow assurance consultant responsible for both the technical and commercial management of a project team of up to 10 flow assurance consultants, in Perth and other international locations. As well, Ian has experience of flow assurance and systems related project management through all stages of a project lifecycle. |
References
Dudley, E., 2013—Integrated modelling of complex gas-condensate networks. Subsea 2013, Aberdeen, Scotland, 6–7 February.Golczynski, T.S., and Niesen, V.G., 2001—A tale of two trees: flow assurance challenges for wet tree and dry tree systems in ultra-deepwater. SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, Louisiana, 30 September–3 October, 1–16.
Lim, F., 2009—Dry or wet trees in deepwater developments from a riser system perspective. Third ISOPE International Deep-Ocean Technology Symposium, Beijing, China, 28 June–1 July, 50–54.
Zhang, J., and Kopperman I., 2013—Modelling of topsides repressurisation for wet gas condensate systems for development of dry tree well start-up strategies. 16th International Conference on Multiphase Production Technology, Cannes, France, 12–14 June, 7–21.
