WO2017025101A1 - A slug catcher - Google Patents

A slug catcher Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2017025101A1
WO2017025101A1 PCT/DK2016/050267 DK2016050267W WO2017025101A1 WO 2017025101 A1 WO2017025101 A1 WO 2017025101A1 DK 2016050267 W DK2016050267 W DK 2016050267W WO 2017025101 A1 WO2017025101 A1 WO 2017025101A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
slug catcher
slug
internal chamber
pipe
insulating material
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/DK2016/050267
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Kristian GLEJBØL
Tom Larsen
Original Assignee
National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S filed Critical National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S
Publication of WO2017025101A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017025101A1/en

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Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17DPIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES
    • F17D3/00Arrangements for supervising or controlling working operations
    • F17D3/14Arrangements for supervising or controlling working operations for eliminating water
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D19/00Degasification of liquids
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01DSEPARATION
    • B01D19/00Degasification of liquids
    • B01D19/0042Degasification of liquids modifying the liquid flow
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16LPIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L55/00Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
    • F16L55/07Arrangement or mounting of devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating or draining

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Pipeline Systems (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a slug catcher (1) for mounting in a pipeline system for transporting oil and gas, the slug catcher (1) comprises a housing (2) defining an internal chamber (5), an inlet pipe (3) and an outlet pipe (4), wherein at least a part of the internal chamber (5), the inlet pipe (3) and/or the outlet pipe (4) comprise(s) an electrically insulating material.

Description

A SLUG CATCHER
The present invention relates to a slug catcher for mounting in a pipeline system for transporting oil and gas.
TECHNICAL FIELD
Slug catchers, also sometimes referred to as slug arresters, are located upstream between the outlet of a pipeline and the processing equipment to prevent that slug flow in the pipeline arrives at the processing equipment. Slug flow can occur under certain operating conditions where gas and liquid separate in the pipeline (e.g. due to gravity) and travel as large plugs (also called slugs) of mostly liquids or mostly gases through the pipeline. The presence of such intermittent slugs from the outlet pipeline can overload the oil/gas handling capacity of the processing equipment in case the slugs are generated at a higher rate than the equipment is designed for. Furthermore, as the slugs normally travel at high velocities, the pipe system can be subjected to high loads when the liquid slugs are slowed down at the end of the outlet pipeline. The slug catcher provides a buffer volume to
accommodate the arriving intermittent slugs. Following a preliminary separation of the arriving fluid in the slug catcher, the liquid and gas phases are subsequently drained in a controlled manner to the downstream processing facilities. Other than actually damaging the pipe directly, these slugs can also cause further problems, including noise and vibrations which may cause fatigue failures in the pipe structure. It is possible to reduce the effects of the slugs using expansion tanks, such as slug catchers, and other features. Types of slug catchers used within the oil and gas industry are e.g. disclosed in US 5,158,579 and WO 87/01759 Al.
Within the oil and gas industry, especially for offshore appliances, it is common to use flexible pipes for conveying oil and gas from the seabed to a production platform or to transport oil between a production platform and a transport unit.
In recent years considerable research efforts have been put into flexible pipes equipped with heating systems, such as electrical heating. The electrical heating system may utilize the metallical armour layers in the flexible pipe. Such pipes are terminated in both ends using end-fittings designed to withstand the mechanical and thermal loads put on the pipe. Successful systems utilizing electrical heating of the unbonded flexible pipe require that the end-fitting comprise electrical connection means such that it is possible to polarize the carcass of the pipe relative to the rest of the end-fitting.
However, in these pipe systems it is difficult to prevent the polarized metallic armour layers to get into contact with the fluid in the bore of the flexible pipe in particular when the metallic armour is the carcass, which is in direct contact with the fluid conveyed in the pipe. Often the fluid transported in such a pipe is not a pure hydrocarbon, but a mixture of oil and water containing salts. Thus, even though it is possible to terminate the carcass in the end-fitting and prevent stray currents from flowing from the end-fitting and downstream, a considerable current may still run in the liquid. This downstream current may cause both galvanic corrosion, gas generation and unwanted losses and should be prevented. The current or electrical charge may also cause formation of sparks which is highly undesirable in a system transporting oil and gas.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a slug catcher, which may be used with flexible pipes having electrical heating systems.
The present invention relates to a slug catcher for mounting in a pipeline system for transporting oil and gas, the slug catcher comprises a housing defining an internal chamber, an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, wherein at least a part of the internal chamber and/or the inlet pipe and/or the outlet pipe comprise(s) an electrically insulating material.
Thus, the slug catcher comprises an internal chamber which serves as an expansion chamber or pressure relief chamber for pressurized fluid entering the internal chamber via the inlet pipe. Thus, the internal chamber is surrounded by the walls of the housing, and forms a closed chamber connected to an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe.
When pressurized liquid enters the internal chamber via the inlet pipe, the liquid part of the fluid is collected in the bottom part of the internal chamber and exits the internal chamber via the outlet connected to the bottom part of the housing.
In an embodiment at least the part of the internal chamber which comes into contact with liquid is covered with an electric insulating material or made from an electric insulating material.
In an embodiment the gaseous parts of the fluid may exit the slug catcher via a separate gas outlet mounted on a top part of the housing.
When the fluid has been conveyed in flexible pipes comprising electrical heating and the fluid is electrically conductive, the fluid may be transferring an electrical potential. Thus, to prevent the electrical potential from being transferred beyond the slug catcher, at least a part of the internal chamber comprises an electrically insulating material. In an alternative embodiment the inlet pipe may comprise an insulating material or the outlet pipe may comprise an insulating material. In an embodiment the internal chamber, the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe comprise an insulating material.
In an embodiment the housing of the slug catcher is manufactured from a metallic material. The metallic material is preferably steel, which is a material which is wear-resistant and relatively easy to adapt into a slug catcher. When metallic material, such as steel is used for the housing, the wall thickness of the housing may range from about 1 mm to about 40 mm.
In an embodiment according to the invention, when the housing of the slug catcher is manufactured from a metallic material, which is electrically conductive, the internal chamber is coated with an electrically insulating coating. The coating may be based on epoxy or ceramic material. The coating conveniently has a thickness in the range 0,1 mm to 5,0 mm, such as in the range 0,5 mm to 3,0 mm. Also the outer surface of the slug catcher may be covered with an electrically insulating coating.
In an embodiment the housing of the slug catcher is manufactured from an electrically insulating material, and preferably the insulating material is a polymer material or a fibre reinforced polymer or a combination of both. Polymer materials are often electrically insulating and easy to work and useable for forming complex shapes such as the housing. When a polymer material, such as polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, fibre reinforced polyester, fibre reinforced epoxy, or fibre reinforced vinylester, is used for the housing, the wall thickness of the housing may range from about 5 mm to about 50 mm.
In an embodiment the inlet pipe comprises an electrical insulating material on the inner side. Thus, the electrical potential of the fluid cannot reach the housing or other parts of the slug catcher.
In an embodiment the inlet pipe comprises an electrically insulating material on the outer side. Again, electrical potential of the fluid cannot reach the housing or other parts of the slug catcher.
In an embodiment of the slug catcher the outlet pipe comprises an electrically insulating material. Thus, the outlet pipe inhibits travelling of the electrical potential of the carcass in the pipe system beyond the slug catcher. In an embodiment the electrically insulating material is selected from epoxy, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, an enamel coating and combinations thereof.
In an embodiment the internal chamber or, optionally, the housing, the inlet pipe and/or the outlet pipe is (are) connected to ground. Connection to ground may prevent the appearance of stray currents from the slug catcher.
In an embodiment of the slug catcher, the volume of the internal chamber is at least 1 m3. Thus, the slug catcher will provide a sufficient expansion chamber for the pressurized fluid.
In an embodiment the slug catcher is located in the vicinity of an end-fitting terminating an unbonded flexible pipe. The slug catcher may e.g. be located on a production facility, which receives the pressurized fluid from the unbonded flexible pipe via the end-fitting. Preferably the phrase "in the vicinity of" should be understood as within a distance of less than 100 m, such in a range of 0,5 m to 50 m, conveniently within a range of 0,5 m to 25 m, preferably within a distance of less than 10 m.
The outlet pipe of the slug catcher may comprise one or more sensors which may determine if there is an electric potential in the fluid leaving the slug catcher via the outlet. In this manner it can be determined if further measures should be taken towards unwanted effect of the electric potential. The one or more sensors may be connected with a control system, controlling the flow of fluid in the pipelines, slug catchers and optional production facilities.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention will now be described in further details with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawing in which:
Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a slug catcher; Figure 2 shows a cross section of a slug catcher according to the invention;
Figure 3 shows a cross section of a slug catcher according to the invention;
Figure 4 shows a cross section of a slug catcher according to the invention;
Figure 5 shows a slug catcher according to the invention included in a pipe system.
The figures are not accurate in every detail but are only sketches intended to the show the principles of the invention. Details which are not a part of the invention may have been omitted. In the figures, the same reference numbers are used for the same parts.
Figure 1 shows a slug catcher 1 comprising a housing 2 connected to an inlet pipe 3 and an outlet pipe 4. The housing 2 is substantially cubic and defines the internal chamber which is the space inside the housing 2. The housing 2 has a rather large volume compared to the diameter of the inlet pipe 3. Thus, the slug catcher 1 provides a rather big expansion chamber for pressurized fluid conveyed in the inlet pipe 3.
Figure 2 shows a section of an embodiment of a slug catcher 1 in which the inlet pipe 3 is made from an electrically insulating material. As it is seen the housing 2 defines an internal chamber 5 into which the inlet pipe 3 enters and may deliver pressurized fluid into the internal chamber 5. The fluid which is depressurized in the inlet chamber 5 is collected at the bottom part 5a of the internal chamber 5 and led away from the slug catcher 1 by the outlet pipe 4.
Figure 3 shows a section of an embodiment of the slug catcher 1 in which the inlet pipe 3 is an electrically conductive steel pipe. However, the housing 2 and the internal chamber 5 comprise an insulating material 6. In this embodiment the outlet pipe 4 also comprises an insulating material.
Figure 4 shows a section of an alternative embodiment of a slug catcher 1. In this embodiment an electrically insulating material 6 is placed between the material of the housing 2 and the inlet pipe 3. Moreover, the slug catcher 1 comprises an additional outlet pipe 7 communicating with the top part 5b of the internal chamber 5. Thus, when a fluid comprising liquid and gas enters the internal chamber 5 via the inlet pipe the fluid may separate into a liquid phase and a gaseous phase. The liquid phase will be collected in the bottom part 5a of the internal chamber 5 and leave the slug catcher 1 via the outlet pipe 4. The gaseous phase will be collected in the top part 5b of the internal chamber 5 and leave the slug catcher 1 via the outlet pipe 7.
Figure 5 illustrates schematically how a slug catcher 1 according to the invention may be placed in a pipe system. The pipe system comprises a flexible pipe 11 which conveys a pressurized fluid. The flexible pipe 11 is terminated in the end-fitting 12, which also comprises means for connecting the metallic armour layers in the flexible pipe to an electrical power source such that the metallic armour layers may serve as heating elements in the flexible pipe 11. The end-fitting 12 is connected to a connector 13 which establishes connection between the flexible pipe 11 and the rigid steel pipe 3.
The rigid steel pipe 3 is also the inlet pipe for the slug catcher 1. The slug catcher 1 comprises an insulating material according to the invention. Thus when the pressurized fluid from the flexible pipe 11, which may carry an electric charge originating from the electrical heating system in the flexible pipe 11, the fluid will be depressurized in the slug catcher 1 and the electrical potential will be prevented from travelling further into the pipe system via the outlet pipe 4.
The flexible pipe 11 may be connected to a well at a seabed and convey a fluid comprising oil, gas and water. The connector 13, the inlet pipe 3, the slug catcher 1 and the outlet pipe 4 may be located on a production platform, such as a floating production platform.
It has been expected that it is sufficient to insulate the end-fitting 12 and optionally the connector 13 to avoid electric current into the rigid pipe 3. However, it has been experienced that insulation in the end-fitting 12 and the connector 13 is not sufficient to prevent electric potential and current to travel into the rigid pipe 3. Thus, there is a need for further measures to block the current from reaching production facilities where it may cause damage. The slug catcher according to the invention is one such measure.

Claims

1. A slug catcher for mounting in a pipeline system for transporting oil and gas, the slug catcher comprises a housing defining an internal chamber, an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, wherein at least a part of the internal chamber, the inlet pipe and/or the outlet pipe comprise(s) an electrically insulating material.
2. A slug catcher according to claim 1, wherein the slug catcher is
manufactured from a metallic material.
3. A slug catcher according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the internal chamber is coated with an electrically insulating coating.
4. A slug catcher according to claim 1, wherein the slug catcher is
manufactured from an electrically insulating material.
5. A slug catcher according to claim 1, wherein the slug catcher is
manufactured from a polymer material.
6. A slug catcher according to claim 1, wherein the inlet pipe comprises an electrically insulating material on the inner side.
7. A slug catcher according to claim 1, wherein the inlet pipe comprises an electrically insulating material on the outer side.
8. A slug catcher according to claim 1, wherein the outlet pipe comprises an electrically insulating material.
9. A slug catcher according to claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating material is selected from from epoxy, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, an enamel coating and combinations thereof.
10. A slug catcher according to claim 1, wherein the internal chamber, and/or the outlet pipe(s) is(are) connected to ground.
11. A slug catcher according to claim 1, wherein the volume of the internal chamber is at least 1 m3.
12. A slug catcher according to claim 1, wherein the slug catcher is located in the vicinity of an end-fitting terminating an unbonded flexible pipe.
PCT/DK2016/050267 2015-08-10 2016-08-08 A slug catcher WO2017025101A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DKPA201570517 2015-08-10
DKPA201570517 2015-08-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2017025101A1 true WO2017025101A1 (en) 2017-02-16

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ID=57984643

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/DK2016/050267 WO2017025101A1 (en) 2015-08-10 2016-08-08 A slug catcher

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Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NO852103L (en) * 1984-05-28 1985-11-29 Valmet Oy COAXIAL PIPE FITTING.
US6049657A (en) * 1996-03-25 2000-04-11 Sumner; Glen R. Marine pipeline heated with alternating current
WO2001034940A2 (en) * 1999-11-08 2001-05-17 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Method and system for suppressing and controlling slug flow in a multi-phase fluid stream
US6315497B1 (en) * 1995-12-29 2001-11-13 Shell Oil Company Joint for applying current across a pipe-in-pipe system
US20020166729A1 (en) * 2001-05-14 2002-11-14 Kuzdzal Mark Joseph Hydrate reducing and lubrication system and method for a fluid flow system
SE519844C2 (en) * 2001-04-11 2003-04-15 Aq Elteknik Ab Heat jacket, comprises two metal cylinders separated by cavity containing elastic thermal insulation material and heating element
NO319622B1 (en) * 2003-06-26 2005-09-05 Fmc Kongsberg Subsea As Method and apparatus for determining the amount of substances in a container
US20130112277A1 (en) * 2011-11-08 2013-05-09 Dresser-Rand Company Compact turbomachine system with improved slug flow handling

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NO852103L (en) * 1984-05-28 1985-11-29 Valmet Oy COAXIAL PIPE FITTING.
US6315497B1 (en) * 1995-12-29 2001-11-13 Shell Oil Company Joint for applying current across a pipe-in-pipe system
US6049657A (en) * 1996-03-25 2000-04-11 Sumner; Glen R. Marine pipeline heated with alternating current
WO2001034940A2 (en) * 1999-11-08 2001-05-17 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Method and system for suppressing and controlling slug flow in a multi-phase fluid stream
SE519844C2 (en) * 2001-04-11 2003-04-15 Aq Elteknik Ab Heat jacket, comprises two metal cylinders separated by cavity containing elastic thermal insulation material and heating element
US20020166729A1 (en) * 2001-05-14 2002-11-14 Kuzdzal Mark Joseph Hydrate reducing and lubrication system and method for a fluid flow system
NO319622B1 (en) * 2003-06-26 2005-09-05 Fmc Kongsberg Subsea As Method and apparatus for determining the amount of substances in a container
US20130112277A1 (en) * 2011-11-08 2013-05-09 Dresser-Rand Company Compact turbomachine system with improved slug flow handling

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