A Computer-Aided Hydrate Management System

Abstract

In this study, a computer-aided system for effective hydrate management is presented. A flowchart was developed to suggest possible intervention approaches to follow in the event that hydrates are restricting flow in flowlines. Using VBA® in Excel, a worksheet was developed to serve as a direct means of proposing an intervention approach to adopt after confirming the cause(s) of hydrate formation in the flowline that is monitored. The worksheet created suggests intervention approaches in a matter of seconds after a series of prompts to input the identified causative agents. The main causative agents considered were hydrate formation temperature (HFT), hydrate formation pressure (HFP) and Sufficient Gas/Water. Six scenarios of causative agent occurrences were considered. Scenario 1 was a combination of HFT, HFP and sufficient gas/water, the proposed intervention was to depressurize, heat flowline, carry out chemical inhibition and dehydrate. Scenario 2 was a combination of HFP and HFT, the intervention proposed was to depressurize, heat flowline and carry out inhibition. Scenario 3 was HFP only, the intervention strategy proposed was to depressurize and carry out chemical inhibition. Scenario 4 was a combination of HFT and sufficient gas/water, the proposed intervention was to heat flowline, carry out chemical inhibition and dehydrate. Scenario 5 was HFT only, the proposed intervention strategy was to heat flowline, carry out chemical inhibition. Scenario 6 was a combination of no HFP, HFT or sufficient gas/water, the proposed intervention was that the causative elements be checked again since hydrate presence in the flowline had been previously confirmed.