www.conservaenergia.com
Aims & Objectives to review the types of materials constituting petroleum fluids to identify and describe the types and the properties of materials which compromise pipeline flow assurance to relate how phase equilibria diagrams (PTx) can be used to predict conditions of precipitation of these materials to consider means to inhibit formation of these materials
Reference Sources used: MR Riazi, Characterization and Properties of Petroleum Fractions, ASTM International, (2005). Y Bai and Q Bai, Subsea Pipelines and Risers, Elsevier Science, 2nd Ed, (2005)
Hydrocarbon structures
n-butane methane ethane propane C4 H10 isobutane (methyl-propane) C1 CH4 C2 C2H6 C3 C3H8 C4 C4 H 8
n-octane
2-methylheptane
C8
Cycloalkanes
No of compounds
1.E+10
1.E+08
1.E+06
ethylcyclopentane
o-xylene
1.E+04
1.E+02
naphthalene
dibenzothiophene
heteroatom
1.E+00
No of carbons
Composition (mol%) and Properties of Various Reservoir Fluids and Crude Oil*
Component CO2 N2 H2S C1 C2 C3 iC4 nC4 iC5 nC5 C6 C7+ Total GOR M7+ SG7+ @ 15.5oC
+ stock tank conditions API7+
Wet gas 0 0 0 82.28 9.52 4.64 0.64 0.96 0.35 0.29 0.29 1.01 100 69917 113 0.794 46.7
Gas condensate 0.18 0.13 0 61.92 14.08 8.35 0.97 3.41 0.84 1.48 1.79 6.95 100 4428 143 0.795 46.5
Volatile oil 1.19 0.51 0 45.21 7.09 4.61 1.69 2.81 1.55 2.01 4.42 28.91 100 1011 190 0.8142 42.1
Black oil 0.09 2.09 1.89 29.18 13.60 9.20 0.95 4.30 1.38 2.60 4.32 30.4 100 855 209.8 0.844 36.1
Crude oil+ 0 0 0 0 0.19 1.88 0.62 3.92 2.11 4.46 8.59 78.23 100
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
550
home.flash.net/~acqsol/BatchReport.htm
Aske, N, Kallevik, H, and Sjblom, J., Energy & Fuels, 15, 1304-12, (2001)
In
cr
d, 14.2 13 8-12
Pan, H. and Firoozabadi, A., SPE Production and Facilities, 13, pp118-127, (1998)
A knowledge of the composition of a reservoir fluid can enable the phase equilibrium (vapour-liquid and solid-liquid equilibrium) modelling of the pressure temperature properties of the fluid
240
Pressure (bar)
200
L L+V
www.jee.co.uk
200
300
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www.ifos.com
There are three types of heavy hydrocarbons that exist in a heavy petroleum fluid which due to PTx effects can precipitate in transmission systems: waxes asphaltenes resins Also, interactions between oil/gas constituents and injection media can lead to formation of: gas hydrates salts
can deposit from the oil as a result of temperature/pressure changes (particularly susceptible are sub sea production facilities and pipelines) forms as waxy elongated crystals.
In subsea systems: wax deposition in pipelines is gradual but can lead to blockage crude oil gelation can occur during shut-in (zero flow) leads to high start-up pressures and high pumping pressures due to increased viscosity temperature gradients can be reduced by insulating pipes (increased capital expense)
WAT values derived from solid solution models are close to the pour points of oil WAT values derived from multisolid phase models are close to the cloud point Effect of temperature and Pressure on WAT
Pan, H., Firoozabadi, A and Fotland, P., SPE Production and Facilities, 12, 250-8, (1997)
Wax Inhibition
Cloud points for crude oils are generally in the range 300-315K (80-110oF)
Protection strategies may include: temperature control at CPT + 15oF
thermodynamic wax inhibitors (TWI), e.g. solvents polyalkyl acrylates, low molecular weight polyethylene waxes, ethyl-vinyl acetate (EVA)
wax-saturated solvents must be removed to avoid re-precipitation elsewhere
Remediation strategies: mechanical pigging. NGS (nitrogen generating system) combines thermal, chemical, and mechanical effects by controlling nitrogen gas generation to comprise the reversible fluidity of wax/paraffin deposits
EVA
dispersant/crystal modifier properties
Asphaltenes
a black, brittle component of the bitumen in petroleum organic materials consisting of aromatic and naphthenic ring compounds which carry the main inorganic components of crude oil, including nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen, nickel and vanadium insoluble in non polar solvents but soluble in toluene or other aromatics-based solvents. frequently occurs with wax deposition
generated as a result of pressure drop, high shear (turbulent flow), acids, soluble CO2 (EOR), injected condensate, mixing of incompatible crudes, etc. deposition is non-reversible, i.e. difficult to remove by manipulation of pressure/ temperature. colloidal suspensions in resins in the oil. Dispersion stability depends on the ratio of resin to asphaltene molecules.
Various shapes of asphaltene micelles formed in the presence of large amounts of polar or aromatic solvents Molecular structure of asphaltene proposed for Maya crude (Mexico) by Altamirano, et al. [IMP Bulletin, 1986]
Molecular Structure of asphaltene proposed for 510C Residue of Venezuelan Crude by Carbognani [INTEVEP S.A. Tech. Rept., 1992]
Pan, H. and Firoozabadi, A., SPE Production and Facilities, 13, pp118-127, (1998) http://tigger.uic.edu/~mansoori/Asphaltene.Molecule_html
Rapid physical methods of assessing asphaltene on-set refractive index electrical conductivity kinematic viscosity..
1300
2500
Pressure (psi)
120 0 1100
Pressure (psi)
200 0 1500
L L
1000
LS
1000 900
500
LV
98
LV
98.5 99
LVS
99.5 100 Mole % CO2
25
50 Mole % CO2
75
100
Kawanaka, S., Park, SJ, and Mansoori, GA, SPE Reservoir Engineering, 6, 185-192, (1991)
Pressure
saturation pressure
asphaltene solubility
Temperature
Onset of asphaltene precipitation shown where curve levels off Lighter solvents cause higher precipitation Dilution ratio (RS, i.e. the volume in cm3/g of crude) at the onset is a function of solvent molecular weight, MS, i.e. increases with MS
resins
The amount of solid precipitated in the presence of propane increases with temperature but decreases for n-heptane. Effect of pressure above the bubble point of oil decreases precipitation but below, precipitation increases.
Pan, H. and Firoozabadi, A., SPE Production and Facilities, 13, pp118-127, (1998) Wu, J., Prausnitz, JM, and Firoozabadi, A., AICE Journal, 44, 1188-99, (1998)
Asphaltene precipitation from tank oil in presence of C5-C10 diluents at 295K and 1 bar.
propane
n-heptane
One volume of this saturated methane hydrate contains up to 189 volumes of methane gas at STP. This large gas-storage capacity of gas hydrates may represent an important source of natural gas.
www.csiro.au/files/files/pl1k.pdf
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/jcarroll/HYDR.HTM
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/jcarroll/HYDR.HTM
Pressure (psi)
Metastable Region
hydrate formation curve hydrate dissociation curve
Hydrate Inhibition
Stable Hydrate Region
Inhibitors (10-50 wt%) can reduce hydrate formation temperature (HFT) to below the hydrate dissociation curve. Low dose hydrate inhibitors (LDHI 0.3- 0.5 wt%) interfere with crystallisation.
Metastable Region hydrate dissociation curve Hydrate-free Region
Pressure (psi)
Temperature
KW T = M (100 W )
Inhibitor
Methanol Ethanol Ethylene glycol Diethylene glycol Triethylene glycol
K Value
2335 2335 2700 4000 5400
T- temperature shift (oC) W inhibitor concentration (wt%) M molecular weight of inhibitor/molecular weight of water
hydrate surface has open cavities penetrated by hydrocarbon component amide group hydrogen bonds to hydrate surface via carbonyl adhesion to hydrate surface prevents further hydrate growth limited growth keeps hydrates in suspension
Tutorial Questions
1. Identify factors during fluid transfer from a wellbore which can lead to precipitation and conductivity problems in flowlines. 2. Sketch the basic features of a PT diagram for the methane-water system and describe the effect of sub-cooling. Use the diagram to illustrate why this presents a threat to the integrity of a sub-sea flow line. 3. Explain why dehydration is a possible approach to the inhibition of natural gas hydrates in a pipeline and what type of chemical treatment might be suitable. 4. How do low does hydrate inhibitors (LDHIs) function in comparison to thermodynamic hydrate inhibitors (THIs). 5. Discuss the benefits of dispersion over dissolution in the remediation of flow. 6. Discuss the role of resins in maintaining flow where there is a realistic risk of asphaltene precipitation. What specific properties do these have which enable this function? 7. Distinguish between the various constituents of a petroleum fluid and explain the chemical principles involved in defining a remediation treatment for fouled valvework and pipelines. 8. Identify an equilibrium thermodynamics approach to predicting precipitation under various PTx conditions, i.e. how to construct a PTx phase diagram.