Subsea Oil/Water Separation of Heavy Oil: Overview of the Main Challenges for the Marlim Field-Campos Basin

Euphemio, Mauro Lopes; Oliveira, Roberto Carlos Goncalves de; Nunes, Giovani Cavalcanti; Capela, C.; Ferreira, L.E.A.

doi:10.4043/18914-ms

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…A Harp is currently installed subsea as part of the SSAO Marlim system (SSAO is short for Separação Submarina de Água-Óleo in Portuguese, which means Subsea Oil-Water Separation) in the Marlim field in Brazil (Orlowski et al 2012). Marlim is a brownfield producing with a high water cut (Euphemio et al 2007). Topside processing and disposing of water are expensive and bottlenecks oil production; hence, a subsea water separation station was implemented.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance evaluation of a multi-branch gas–liquid pipe separator using computational fluid dynamics

Refsnes

Díaz

Stanko

2019

J Petrol Explor Prod Technol

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The present paper aims to evaluate the performance of a multi-branch gas-liquid pipe separator by means of 3D computational fluid dynamics. This type of separator is attractive for deepwater subsea hydrocarbon fields due to its compactness and reduced weight when compared against traditional gravity vessel separators. The focus of this paper is on studying the internal flow dynamics, the separation efficiency, and the performance with changing and transient operating conditions. Numerical simulations were performed on a numerical prototype of the separator using the inhomogeneous mixture model and assuming that both phases are continuous. Sensitivity analyses were performed on gas volume fraction, outlet pressures, and considering slug flow at the inlet with periods of 2 s and 8 s. The separation efficiency was quantified by calculating the liquid carry-over and gas blowby. For most of the operational conditions studied, separation occurred primarily in pipe branches closer to the inlet while those closer to the outlet exhibited a static liquid level. Reducing the gas outlet pressure caused the height of the liquid in the branches to be reduced. The inlet gas volume fraction did not affect significantly the separation performance, the flow distribution, nor the liquid level inside the separator. Separation efficiencies were not affected significantly with the presence of slugs; however, the liquid level in the branches oscillated significantly. The results and numerical models produced by this study could potentially be used to improve the understanding of this type of separators and improve its efficiency and system-level design. Keywords Gas-liquid separation • Subsea processing • Computational fluid dynamics List of symbols Variables Δy Thickness of cell closest to wall (m) u * Friction velocity (m/s) t Time (s) U Velocity vector U Velocity component (m/s) p Pressure (Pa, bara) g Gravitational acceleration (m/s 2) M p Momentum interphase (N/m 3) C D Drag coefficient d og Oil-gas interfacial length (m) t Turbulent viscosity (Pa s) k Kinetic energy (m 2 /s 2) p k Turbulent production (kg/m s 3) Greek symbols ρ Density (kg/m 3) μ Dynamic viscosity (Pa s) Volume fraction Turbulent dissipation rate (m 2 /s 3) Subscripts o Oil g Gas OG Outlet of gas OL Outlet of liquid p Generic phase "p" j Generic spatial coordinate i Generic spatial coordinate m Mixture Superscripts o Oil g Gas Abbreviations CFD Computational fluid dynamics GCU Gas carry under * M. Diaz

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance evaluation of a multi-branch gas–liquid pipe separator using computational fluid dynamics

Refsnes

Díaz

Stanko

2019

J Petrol Explor Prod Technol

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“…It is also one of the most energy-efficient methods used for destabilization of WIO emulsions (Eow et al 2001), and is considered an enabling technology for the subsea separation of produced water from heavy oil in deepwater developments (Euphemio et al 2007). It is also one of the most energy-efficient methods used for destabilization of WIO emulsions (Eow et al 2001), and is considered an enabling technology for the subsea separation of produced water from heavy oil in deepwater developments (Euphemio et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance Testing of an Inline Electrocoalescer Device With Medium and Heavy Crudes

Grave

Olson

Menchaca

et al. 2015

Oil and Gas Facilities

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Summary ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company (EMURC) recently completed a subsea technology development and qualification program that included performance testing of an inline electrocoalescer device supplied by FMC Technologies (FMC). This paper will summarize the results from these performance tests. Although heavy oil has been processed onshore successfully for many decades, processing heavy oil in deepwater, subsea, or Arctic fields is extremely challenging. One key challenge is oil/water separation, in which physical separation is constrained by the high viscosity of the crude and the narrow density difference between oil and water. Installing conventional electrostatic coalescers or dehydrators is often not economical or is impractical at remote locations. As part of ExxonMobil's subsea program, several different separation technologies have been investigated and tested that could enable development of these fields. One example of such a technology is an inline electrocoalescer device. An inline electrocoalescer device enhances the coalescence of water droplets dispersed in emulsified oils. This technology has the potential to improve the performance of the downstream oil/water separator considerably. By applying an electrical field to an oil/water mixture, the dispersed water droplets become polarized and reorient themselves in the electrical field. As these water droplets approach one another, attractive forces between the individual water droplets lead to coalescence. Larger water droplets that can be separated faster and more easily in the downstream separation equipment are formed. Such a device can be used to increase the throughput, performance, and reliability of existing oil-processing systems, while reducing the energy consumption and/or use of chemical demulsifiers. In new processing systems, either subsea or topside, deployment of such a device has the potential to significantly reduce the size and weight of the downstream separation equipment, thereby lowering the overall capital expenditure. The results presented in this paper are from performance tests that have been carried out on an inline electrocoalescer device at FMC's testing facilities in the Netherlands, with EMURC's involvement. Extensive testing was executed with both medium and heavy crude oils. The operating temperatures were varied in a range representative for subsea processing applications, where heating of the process fluids is difficult. Thus, the performance of the inline electrocoalescer device was evaluated over a range of oil viscosities. Water-in-oil concentration, flow velocity, upstream shear, and electrical-field strength were also varied to investigate their effects on the performance of the inline electrocoalescer device. The results demonstrate that the unit is able to deliver high preconditioning performance to medium- and heavy-crude-oil emulsions, provided that the appropriate process conditions and electrical settings are used.

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“…Após 15 anos de produção, verificou-se a necessidade de se implantar novas tecnologias para garantir que a produção de altas taxas de óleo fosse mantida mesmo com o contínuo aumento da vazão de água produzida. Nesse contexto, a tecnologia considerada mais promissora foi o Sistema de Separação Água-Óleo (SSAO) submarino (Euphemio et al, 2007).…”

Section: Marlim (Brasil)unclassified

“…Segundo Euphemio et al (2007), o sucesso do processamento submarino de Marlim está diretamente relacionado a três fatores. O primeiro refere-se à injeção de desemulsificantes na corrente de gas lift, responsáveis por quebrar as emulsões estáveis causadas pela alta acidez e elevado conteúdo de asfaltenos nos fluidos produzidos.…”

Section: Marlim (Brasil)unclassified

“…A temperatura mais baixa no sistema submarino prejudica a separação o que foi mitigado pela injeção de produtos químicos a montante do sistema. Por outro lado, o aumento da pressão facilita o processo de separação em função da maior quantidade de gás dissolvido em solução e, consequentemente, menor densidade e viscosidade da mistura (Euphemio et al, 2007).…”

Section: Marlim (Brasil)unclassified

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Sistemas De Separação Submarina Como Estratégia Para Mitigar Problemas De Garantia De Escoamento

SILVA¹

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Ao meu orientador, Wellington Campos, por compartilhar comigo sua vasta experiência na área de engenharia de petróleo e pela intensa dedicação e disponibilidade ao longo destes últimos dois anos.Ao meu orientador, Prof. José Alberto dos Reis Parise, pelos ensinamentos, contribuições e paciência ao longo do desenvolvimento desta dissertação. Sou grato pela amizade e por todos os momentos em que me ajudou na condução deste trabalho.À minha mãe, Cristiana, pelo amor incondicional e por sempre fazer o possível e o impossível para que seus filhos, marido e outros familiares sejam felizes. Ao meu pai, Carlos, por todo amor, por sempre estar ao meu lado e por ser meu modelo de pai e companheiro. Às minhas irmãs, Luiza e Luciana, por todo amor, amizade e incentivo. Às minhas tias, praticamente mães, Bel e Angel, por todo carinho e dedicação. Aos meus avós maternos, Mª do Rosário e Antônio Carlos, por serem tão atenciosos, carinhosos e por terem construído esta família tão unida. Aos meus avós paternos, Lourdes e Roberto, por todo amor e carinho. Ao meu cunhado, Flávio, por todo incentivo e amizade. Ao meu sobrinho, João, por já ter proporcionado tantas alegrias à nossa família. À minha namorada, Luísa, por todo o carinho, amor, amizade e compreensão, mesmo nos momentos mais difíceis.Aos meus amigos de longa data ("manos") e aos amigos da faculdade, por todo apoio e compreensão durante este período em que estive mais ausente. Agradeço também à amiga Dalila, por todas as colaborações ao longo do curso de mestrado.Aos meus amigos da Promon, em especial ao Carlos Thomaz, Carlos Filizola, João Fontoura, Marco Ceccarelli, Mateus Nunes, Matheus Dias, Otávio Pires e Rodolfo Ribeiro, por todo o incentivo e por serem minhas fontes de inspiração profissional.Agradeço à PUC-Rio, por conceder a bolsa de isenção durante todo o período do meu mestrado, sem a qual não seria possível a elaboração deste trabalho. The production of oil and gas by subsea production systems has been tested and performed for several fields. The first steps of the primary oil and gas processing, which were held in Stationary Production Units ( number of sensitivity analyzes is performed by changing the main parameters that affect the flow pressure drop: water-oil ratio, gas-oil ratio, production flow rate and API gravity. At the end of this work, the simulation results of two hypothetical subsea scenarios that have flow assurance problems and the solution of these problems with the installation of oil-water subsea separation systems are presented.

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Subsea Oil/Water Separation of Heavy Oil: Overview of the Main Challenges for the Marlim Field-Campos Basin

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Performance evaluation of a multi-branch gas–liquid pipe separator using computational fluid dynamics

Performance evaluation of a multi-branch gas–liquid pipe separator using computational fluid dynamics

Performance Testing of an Inline Electrocoalescer Device With Medium and Heavy Crudes

Sistemas De Separação Submarina Como Estratégia Para Mitigar Problemas De Garantia De Escoamento

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