Kinetic Properties and Dynamic Distribution of Hydrate Particles in a Water-Dominated System

Abstract

Hydrate agglomeration and blockage have emerged as significant challenges in deep-water oil and gas exploitation. Currently, there are limited studies on the velocity and distribution of hydrate particles inside the pipe as they move during the flow process. This study utilizes computational fluid dynamics (CFD)–discrete element method (DEM) methods to simulate the flow process of hydrate slurry in a horizontal pipe. The results indicate that at low flow rates, the pressure drop is predominantly influenced by the agglomeration of hydrate particles and the formation of sedimentary moving beds. On the other hand, at high flow rates, the augmentation of flow pressure drop predominantly arises from the dissipation of energy caused by frictional losses occurring between the fluid and the inner surface of the pipeline. A detailed analysis is presented on the velocity fluctuations affecting the motion of hydrate particles. The analysis illustrates that particle velocity is lower in the region near the wall enriched with hydrate particles, while the velocity of particles in the uniformly distributed area at the center is higher. The results obtained from this study provide a comprehensive theoretical framework for further exploration into the evolutionary patterns of hydrate plugging.