Study on Gas Hydrate Formation and Hydrate Slurry Flow in a Multiphase Transportation System

Abstract

As oil and/or gas exploration and production enter deeper water, the flow assurance confronts challenges, one of which is the hydrate formation and blockage. Investigations about gas hydrate formation and hydrate slurry flow in a multiphase transportation system were performed on a newly constructed high-pressure experimental loop. On the basis of the experimental hydrate formation data, an inward and outward hydrate shell model was improved to predict the gas consumed amount during the hydrate formation process. With the help of a focused beam reflectance measurement and particle video microscope installed in this flow loop, the distribution of hydrate particles was observed, characterized in the coalescence and fragmentation. A “minimum safety flow rate” was first addressed for the safety of hydrate slurry flow in a multiphase transportation system. Then, the comparisons between our experimental data of the natural gas hydrate slurry flow pattern and the Mandhane flow pattern map revealed the influence of hydrate particles on the flow pattern of the slurry. Furthermore, the influence of the gas/liquid superficial velocity on the pressure drop was discussed at stratified flow for this gas hydrate slurry multiphase system.

Effects of Combined Sorbitan Monolaurate Anti-Agglomerants on Viscosity of Water-in-Oil Emulsion and Natural Gas Hydrate Slurry

“…f = 1.27V rw 1.27V rw + (V w − V rw ) + (300 − V w ) × 100% (8) where V rw is the volume of reacted water and V w is the total volume of water added. The value of 1.27 refers to the expansion factor and 300 cm 3 represents the total volume of the liquid phase.…”

“…Energies 2017, 10, 1105 2 of 14 formation and flow rules is an important field of this risk-control technique [8]. The determination of viscosity of stable hydrate slurries formed from water/oil emulsions is also significant for the application of hydrate slurry technology.…”

“…By preventing the agglomeration of formed particles, hydrates could be transported as slurry with controlled risk [7]. Study on hydrate formation and flow rules is an important field of this risk-control technique [8]. The determination of viscosity of stable hydrate slurries formed from water/oil emulsions is also significant for the application of hydrate slurry technology.…”

Coalbed methane: places of origin, perspectives of extraction, alternative methods of transportation with the use of gas hydrate and nanotechnologies

“…The following promising methods are proposed at present: creating gas hydrate pellets for convenient transportation (Katoh & Fukazawa, 2011;Rehder et al, 2012), transportation in trucks (Mimachi et al, 2014;Taheri, Shabani, Nazari, & Mehdizaheh, 2014;), shipping in vessels (Mannel & Puckett, 2008), storage as frozen hydrates (Gudmundsson, Parlaktuna, & Khokhar, 1994), transportation of hydrate slurry (Martin, Sinquin, & Darbouret, 2011;Lv, Shi, Wang, & Gong, 2013).…”

A numerical study on the non‐isothermal flow characteristics and hydrate risk of CO2 in buried transmission pipelines under the gas‐phase transportation mode

“…However, the formation of CO 2 hydrates becomes a major problem, affecting the safety of CO 2 pipeline transportation . The formation and deposition of hydrate shrinks the passageway of the airflow and reduces the transportation efficiency, and the huge volume of hydrate causes pipeline blockage and rupture accidents . Moreover, compared with natural gas, which is mainly composed of methane, CO 2 can form solid hydrates at relatively lower pressures and higher temperatures.…”