Design, Fabrication and Validation of a Laboratory Flow Loop for Hydrate Studies

Odutola T. O.; Ajienka J. A.; Onyekonwu M. O.; Ikiensikimama S. S.

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14

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Design, Fabrication and Validation of a Laboratory Flow Loop for Hydrate Studies

Odutola T. O., Ajienka J. A., Onyekonwu M. O., Ikiensikimama S. S.

Received: 3 March 2017 Accepted: 4 March 2017 Published: 27 April 2017

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Abstract

The peculiar nature of the offshore environment has necessitated the need for the Oil and Gas industry to develop durable subsea technologies and better hydrate inhibitors to prevent hydrate formation and assure flow. This paper discusses the design, fabrication and validation of a laboratory flow loop for hydrate studies. The laboratory loop is a closed loop of 12meters, fabricated using 0.5inch 316 stainless steel pipe enclosed in an insulated 4inch Polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe. The skid mounted loop was fitted with pumps, temperature gauges, pressure gauges, differential pressure transmitters, a gas mixing vessel, an inhibitor mixing vessel, and a Natural Gas cylinder. Hydrate formed in the loop when natural gas was contacted with water under suitable hydrate forming temperature and pressure conditions and was indicated by an increased loop temperature, an increased differential pressure and a decreased loop pressure. Loop Validation was done by flowing a single phase fluid of water, a single phase fluid of gas and a 2 phase fluid of gas and water in three different experimental runs respectively. Each experimental run lasted 2 hours during which temperatures and pressures around the loop were recorded every minute. Hydrate formation was observed in the experimental run conducted with the two phase fluid (gas and water) and the experimental run conducted with gas alone due to water condensing out of gas during cooling. Hydrate did not form in the experimental run conducted with single phase fluid of water. The laboratory flow loop adequately predicts hydrate formation and has been used in screening and selection of Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitors (KHI).

DOI	10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14
Published in	American Journal of Chemical Engineering (Volume 5, Issue 3-1, May 2017) This article belongs to the Special Issue Oil Field Chemicals and Petrochemicals
Page(s)	28-41
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Gas Hydrate Equipment, Flow Assurance, Hydrate Loop Validation

References

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[16]	Peytavy J., Glenat P., and Bourg P. (2007): "Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitors- Sensitivity Towards Pressure and Corrosion Inhibitors". Paper IPTC 11233, Presented at the International Technology Conference held in Dubai, U. A. E.
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Odutola T. O., Ajienka J. A., Onyekonwu M. O., Ikiensikimama S. S. (2017). Design, Fabrication and Validation of a Laboratory Flow Loop for Hydrate Studies. American Journal of Chemical Engineering, 5(3-1), 28-41. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14

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ACS Style

Odutola T. O.; Ajienka J. A.; Onyekonwu M. O.; Ikiensikimama S. S. Design, Fabrication and Validation of a Laboratory Flow Loop for Hydrate Studies. Am. J. Chem. Eng. 2017, 5(3-1), 28-41. doi: 10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14

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AMA Style

Odutola T. O., Ajienka J. A., Onyekonwu M. O., Ikiensikimama S. S. Design, Fabrication and Validation of a Laboratory Flow Loop for Hydrate Studies. Am J Chem Eng. 2017;5(3-1):28-41. doi: 10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14

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@article{10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14,
  author = {Odutola T. O. and Ajienka J. A. and Onyekonwu M. O. and Ikiensikimama S. S.},
  title = {Design, Fabrication and Validation of a Laboratory Flow Loop for Hydrate Studies},
  journal = {American Journal of Chemical Engineering},
  volume = {5},
  number = {3-1},
  pages = {28-41},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajche.s.2017050301.14},
  abstract = {The peculiar nature of the offshore environment has necessitated the need for the Oil and Gas industry to develop durable subsea technologies and better hydrate inhibitors to prevent hydrate formation and assure flow. This paper discusses the design, fabrication and validation of a laboratory flow loop for hydrate studies. The laboratory loop is a closed loop of 12meters, fabricated using 0.5inch 316 stainless steel pipe enclosed in an insulated 4inch Polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe. The skid mounted loop was fitted with pumps, temperature gauges, pressure gauges, differential pressure transmitters, a gas mixing vessel, an inhibitor mixing vessel, and a Natural Gas cylinder. Hydrate formed in the loop when natural gas was contacted with water under suitable hydrate forming temperature and pressure conditions and was indicated by an increased loop temperature, an increased differential pressure and a decreased loop pressure. Loop Validation was done by flowing a single phase fluid of water, a single phase fluid of gas and a 2 phase fluid of gas and water in three different experimental runs respectively. Each experimental run lasted 2 hours during which temperatures and pressures around the loop were recorded every minute. Hydrate formation was observed in the experimental run conducted with the two phase fluid (gas and water) and the experimental run conducted with gas alone due to water condensing out of gas during cooling. Hydrate did not form in the experimental run conducted with single phase fluid of water. The laboratory flow loop adequately predicts hydrate formation and has been used in screening and selection of Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitors (KHI).},
 year = {2017}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Design, Fabrication and Validation of a Laboratory Flow Loop for Hydrate Studies
AU - Odutola T. O.
AU - Ajienka J. A.
AU - Onyekonwu M. O.
AU - Ikiensikimama S. S.
Y1 - 2017/04/27
PY - 2017
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14
DO - 10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14
T2 - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
JF - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
JO - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
SP - 28
EP - 41
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2330-8613
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14
AB - The peculiar nature of the offshore environment has necessitated the need for the Oil and Gas industry to develop durable subsea technologies and better hydrate inhibitors to prevent hydrate formation and assure flow. This paper discusses the design, fabrication and validation of a laboratory flow loop for hydrate studies. The laboratory loop is a closed loop of 12meters, fabricated using 0.5inch 316 stainless steel pipe enclosed in an insulated 4inch Polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe. The skid mounted loop was fitted with pumps, temperature gauges, pressure gauges, differential pressure transmitters, a gas mixing vessel, an inhibitor mixing vessel, and a Natural Gas cylinder. Hydrate formed in the loop when natural gas was contacted with water under suitable hydrate forming temperature and pressure conditions and was indicated by an increased loop temperature, an increased differential pressure and a decreased loop pressure. Loop Validation was done by flowing a single phase fluid of water, a single phase fluid of gas and a 2 phase fluid of gas and water in three different experimental runs respectively. Each experimental run lasted 2 hours during which temperatures and pressures around the loop were recorded every minute. Hydrate formation was observed in the experimental run conducted with the two phase fluid (gas and water) and the experimental run conducted with gas alone due to water condensing out of gas during cooling. Hydrate did not form in the experimental run conducted with single phase fluid of water. The laboratory flow loop adequately predicts hydrate formation and has been used in screening and selection of Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitors (KHI).
VL - 5
IS - 3-1
ER -

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Author Information

Odutola T. O.

Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Ajienka J. A.

Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Onyekonwu M. O.

Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Ikiensikimama S. S.

Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

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Odutola T. O., Ajienka J. A., Onyekonwu M. O., Ikiensikimama S. S. (2017). Design, Fabrication and Validation of a Laboratory Flow Loop for Hydrate Studies. American Journal of Chemical Engineering, 5(3-1), 28-41. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14

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ACS Style

Odutola T. O.; Ajienka J. A.; Onyekonwu M. O.; Ikiensikimama S. S. Design, Fabrication and Validation of a Laboratory Flow Loop for Hydrate Studies. Am. J. Chem. Eng. 2017, 5(3-1), 28-41. doi: 10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14

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AMA Style

Odutola T. O., Ajienka J. A., Onyekonwu M. O., Ikiensikimama S. S. Design, Fabrication and Validation of a Laboratory Flow Loop for Hydrate Studies. Am J Chem Eng. 2017;5(3-1):28-41. doi: 10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14

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@article{10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14,
  author = {Odutola T. O. and Ajienka J. A. and Onyekonwu M. O. and Ikiensikimama S. S.},
  title = {Design, Fabrication and Validation of a Laboratory Flow Loop for Hydrate Studies},
  journal = {American Journal of Chemical Engineering},
  volume = {5},
  number = {3-1},
  pages = {28-41},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.s.2017050301.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajche.s.2017050301.14},
  abstract = {The peculiar nature of the offshore environment has necessitated the need for the Oil and Gas industry to develop durable subsea technologies and better hydrate inhibitors to prevent hydrate formation and assure flow. This paper discusses the design, fabrication and validation of a laboratory flow loop for hydrate studies. The laboratory loop is a closed loop of 12meters, fabricated using 0.5inch 316 stainless steel pipe enclosed in an insulated 4inch Polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe. The skid mounted loop was fitted with pumps, temperature gauges, pressure gauges, differential pressure transmitters, a gas mixing vessel, an inhibitor mixing vessel, and a Natural Gas cylinder. Hydrate formed in the loop when natural gas was contacted with water under suitable hydrate forming temperature and pressure conditions and was indicated by an increased loop temperature, an increased differential pressure and a decreased loop pressure. Loop Validation was done by flowing a single phase fluid of water, a single phase fluid of gas and a 2 phase fluid of gas and water in three different experimental runs respectively. Each experimental run lasted 2 hours during which temperatures and pressures around the loop were recorded every minute. Hydrate formation was observed in the experimental run conducted with the two phase fluid (gas and water) and the experimental run conducted with gas alone due to water condensing out of gas during cooling. Hydrate did not form in the experimental run conducted with single phase fluid of water. The laboratory flow loop adequately predicts hydrate formation and has been used in screening and selection of Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitors (KHI).},
 year = {2017}
}

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