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COURSE OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
Solids
Composed of water
+
IT IS NOT ICE !
COURSE OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
another compound
WATER
A GAS
PRESSURE
COLD
Hydrogen bonds
COURSE OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
COURSE OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
COURSE OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
Remark : PRO II does not take into account the amount of water present in the gas
It always calculates hydrate formation assuming the presence of free water is present.
It always assume that the gas is water saturated, i.e. it increases the gas water content if
not at water saturation
100
80
60
40
20
0
0
20
40
60
80
Temperatue (C)
Hydrate Curve
100
Pressure(bar abs)
120
COURSE OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
another compound
A GAS
COLD
PRESSURE
WATER
Reducing the pressure on only one side is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!! The solid
hydrate plug can break loose. Then the pipeline pressure drives the ice-hard
hydrate plug towards the lowered pressure side at very high velocity. When the
hydrate hits a bend or restriction, it can break the pipe and even unearth a buried
pipeline. Such accidents have resulted in loss of lives and extensive equipment
damage.
P = 70 bar
P = 100 bar
1st step:
Reduce slowly by steps the pipeline pressure on both sides of the plug, one side down to a pressure near atmospheric
pressure, other side down a pressure of a few bars (< 6 bar).
4 to 5
bar
Patm
Hydrate plug
Quick gas depressurization could generate a gas cooling to negative temperature values (Joule-Thompson expansion),
which favors ice formation and extends the melting period of the hydrate plug.
To prevent this event it is a good practice to control the gas temperature during depressurization.
2nd step:
Inject methanol to the upper pressure pipeline side when the pressure value starts to decrease.
The small flow brings the methanol towards the hydrate plug and favors by contact his dissociation.
Methanol can dissolve existing hydrates to few degrees. It is not the case with glycol: glycol can
prevent hydrates, but cannot attack or dissolve hydrates already present
QUIZ
True
The presence of moisture (water at vapor state) is enough to form hydrates, when combined with gas molecules
at a low enough temperature and high enough pressure
False
..
For
hydrate formation, the presence of LIQUID water is needed
The higher the density of a gas the higher its hydrate formation temperature (at a given pressure)
..
Hydrate formation temperature increases as specific gravity of gas increases
The presence of H2S in the gas increases the hydrate formation risks
..
Presence
of H2S increases hydrate formation temperature at a given pressure
Hydrate removal can be done safely by depressurization of downstream side of the flowline
..
Depressurization shall be performed gradually on BOTH sides, in order to avoid flow line rupture.
Hydrates are composed of a water lattice, in which light hydrocarbons (C1, C2, C3, iso-C4) or impurities (H2S, CO2) are embedded
(Clathrates). The specific gravity of hydrates varies from 0.96 to 0.98
Hydrates could:
BLOCK flowlines, chokes, valves, instrumentation,
FOUL and PLUG heat exchangers,
ERODE chokes, control valves, turbo-expanders.
For a given pressure, the temperature and thus the risks of hydrate formation iare higher if the density of the gas increases
Hydrate formation starts slowly. However, this phenomenon accelerates exponentially and ends up by blocking the
installations. Regular monitoring to detect the beginning of hydrate formation is thus more than recommended