What is the effect of field age in connection with flow assurance?
- Water-cut increases with time and thus the fromation of emultions
- Pressure reduces and deposition is easier. However, hydrate fromation is more difficult because of the lower pressure.
- Boosting may be needed
What flow assurance problems are anticipated during planned or unplanned field shut-downs?
- The fluid in the SPS starts to cool down
- If the temperature is reduced below the hydrate formation temperature
- Wax formation
How to prevent/mitigate flow assurance problems during planned or unplanned field shut-downs?
- Cool down time can be desinged to be sufficient for the operator to take remedial actions such as:
- blow-down to reduve the flowline pressure below the critical hydrate formation pressure
- if hydrostatic head of liquids in the riser is high flowlines and risers can be pigged and displaced - Thermal insulation or heating of line and riser to reduce cool-down time.