DETERMINING SLUG CATCHER SIZE USING SIMPLIFIED MULTIPHASE FLOW MODELS
First Claim
1. A method for selecting a size of a slug catcher in a pipeline network configured for extracting and transporting multiphase fluid from a reservoir in a subterranean formation, comprising:
- obtaining a network model of the pipeline network, wherein the network model comprises a geometry of the pipeline network and characteristics of an equipment associated with the pipeline network;
obtaining operational parameters of the pipeline network, wherein the operational parameters relate to extraction and transportation activities of the multiphase fluid;
determining, by a processor of a computer system, a plurality of slug catcher sizes of the slug catcher, comprising;
determining a first slug catcher size of the plurality of slug catcher sizes based on a hydrodynamic slugging scenario of the network model using a first subset of values of the operational parameters, wherein the first slug catcher size is a first function of travel distance of the multiphase fluid and is determined based on a probabilistic model of the extraction and transportation activities, anddetermining a second slug catcher size of the plurality of slug catcher sizes based on a pigging scenario of the network model using a second subset of values of the operational parameters, wherein the second slug catcher size is determined based on liquid holdup of the multiphase fluid caused by performing a pigging operation in the pipeline network,wherein the first slug catcher size and the second slug catcher size are determined by performing a successive steady-state analysis of the multiphase fluid using a first mass conservation equation, an energy conservation equation, and a momentum conservation equation of the multiphase fluid that are based on a steady-state,generating, by the processor, a hydrodynamic slugging plot and a pigging analysis plot based on the first slug catcher size and the second slug catcher size, respectively;
generating, by the processor and using selected values of the operational parameters from a user, a combined scenario plot based on the hydrodynamic slugging plot and the pigging analysis plot; and
displaying the combined scenario plot for the user, wherein the size of the slug catcher is selected from the plurality of slug catcher sizes by the user based on an evaluation of the combined scenario plot.
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Abstract
An integrated workflow to determine slug catcher size in a pipeline network of an oilfield using successive steady-state and/or simplified transient simulation such that a comprehensive analysis is automatically performed in a short amount of time. In particular, the workflow simultaneously considers several scenarios such that the most limiting case can be used to determine the slug catcher size. Further, the limiting operational parameters that impose the most limiting case may be constrained by the user to mitigate the worst case slug catcher size requirement. Based on the short computation time required, the workflow may be executed iteratively to adjust the constraint while a final slug catcher size is selected by the user. The final slug catcher size is then implemented in the production system with the final constraint included in the operational plan of the production system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for selecting a size of a slug catcher in a pipeline network configured for extracting and transporting multiphase fluid from a reservoir in a subterranean formation, comprising:
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obtaining a network model of the pipeline network, wherein the network model comprises a geometry of the pipeline network and characteristics of an equipment associated with the pipeline network; obtaining operational parameters of the pipeline network, wherein the operational parameters relate to extraction and transportation activities of the multiphase fluid; determining, by a processor of a computer system, a plurality of slug catcher sizes of the slug catcher, comprising; determining a first slug catcher size of the plurality of slug catcher sizes based on a hydrodynamic slugging scenario of the network model using a first subset of values of the operational parameters, wherein the first slug catcher size is a first function of travel distance of the multiphase fluid and is determined based on a probabilistic model of the extraction and transportation activities, and determining a second slug catcher size of the plurality of slug catcher sizes based on a pigging scenario of the network model using a second subset of values of the operational parameters, wherein the second slug catcher size is determined based on liquid holdup of the multiphase fluid caused by performing a pigging operation in the pipeline network, wherein the first slug catcher size and the second slug catcher size are determined by performing a successive steady-state analysis of the multiphase fluid using a first mass conservation equation, an energy conservation equation, and a momentum conservation equation of the multiphase fluid that are based on a steady-state, generating, by the processor, a hydrodynamic slugging plot and a pigging analysis plot based on the first slug catcher size and the second slug catcher size, respectively; generating, by the processor and using selected values of the operational parameters from a user, a combined scenario plot based on the hydrodynamic slugging plot and the pigging analysis plot; and displaying the combined scenario plot for the user, wherein the size of the slug catcher is selected from the plurality of slug catcher sizes by the user based on an evaluation of the combined scenario plot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for selecting a size of a slug catcher in a pipeline network configured for extracting and transporting multiphase fluid from a reservoir in a subterranean formation, comprising:
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a repository configured to store a network model comprising a geometry of the pipeline network and characteristics of equipment associated with the pipeline network, wherein the pipeline network is associated with operational parameters relating to extraction and transportation activities of the multiphase fluid; a processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to; determine a plurality of slug catcher sizes of the slug catcher, comprising; determining a first slug catcher size of the plurality of slug catcher sizes based on a hydrodynamic slugging scenario of the network model using a first subset of values of the operational parameters, wherein the first slug catcher size is a first function of travel distance of the multiphase fluid and is determined based on a probabilistic model of the extraction and transportation activities, and determining a second slug catcher size of the plurality of slug catcher sizes based on a ramp-up scenario of the network model using a second subset of values of the operational parameters, wherein the second slug catcher size is determined based on sensitivity of liquid holdup with respect to overall flow rate induced by increases of input flow rate of the pipeline network, wherein the first slug catcher size and the second slug catcher size are determined by performing (i) a successive steady-state analysis of the multiphase fluid using a first mass conservation equation, an energy conservation equation, and a momentum conservation equation of the multiphase fluid that are based on a steady-state and (ii) a simplified transient analysis of the multiphase fluid using a second mass conservation equation of the multiphase fluid that is time dependent and using the energy conservation equation and the momentum conservation equation of the multiphase fluid that are based on the steady-state, generate a hydrodynamic slugging plot and a ramp-up analysis plot based on the first slug catcher size and the second slug catcher size, respectively; generate, using selected values of the operational parameters from a user, a combined scenario plot based on the hydrodynamic slugging plot and the ramp-up analysis plot; and a display device configured to display the combined scenario plot for the user, wherein the size of the slug catcher is selected from the plurality of slug catcher sizes by the user based on an evaluation of the combined scenario plot. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for determining a size of a slug catcher in a pipeline network configured for extracting and transporting multiphase fluid from a reservoir in a subterranean formation, the instructions when executed causing a processor to:
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obtain a network model of the pipeline network, wherein the network model comprises a geometry of the pipeline network and characteristics of an equipment associated with the pipeline network; obtain operational parameters of the pipeline network, wherein the operational parameters relate to extraction and transportation activities of the multiphase fluid; determine a plurality of slug catcher sizes of the slug catcher, comprising; determining a first slug catcher size of the plurality of slug catcher sizes based on a hydrodynamic slugging scenario of the network model using a first subset of values of the operational parameters, wherein the first slug catcher size is a first function of travel distance of the multiphase fluid and is determined based on a probabilistic model of the extraction and transportation activities, and determining a second slug catcher size of the plurality of slug catcher sizes based on a pigging scenario of the network model using a second subset of values of the operational parameters, wherein the second slug catcher size is determined based on liquid holdup of the multiphase fluid caused by performing a pigging operation in the pipeline network, wherein the first slug catcher size and the second slug catcher size are determined by performing a successive steady-state analysis of the multiphase fluid using a first mass conservation equation, an energy conservation equation, and a momentum conservation equation of the multiphase fluid that are based on a steady-state, generate a hydrodynamic slugging plot and a pigging analysis plot based on the first slug catcher size and the second slug catcher size, respectively; generate, using selected values of the operational parameters from a user, a combined scenario plot based on the hydrodynamic slugging plot and the pigging analysis plot; and display the combined scenario plot for the user, wherein the size of the slug catcher is selected from the plurality of slug catcher sizes by the user based on an evaluation of the combined scenario plot. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification