Evaluation of the impact of Emulsion Droplets Characteristics in Oil and Gas Production Line (Published)
This study evaluates the impact of Emulsion droplets characteristics in oil and gas production line. Emulsion droplets are carried from the reservoir to the wellhead to avoid forming films in the risers and accumulating the down-hole leading to liquid loading. Liquid loading is the main effect of emulsion droplet in oil and gas wells. The focus of this work is on the eradication of liquid loading in oil and gas wells and this is narrowed to the determination of the fluid properties using HYSYS, gas flow rate and the critical flow rate that can carry the emulsion droplets from the reservoir to the surface or surface and the prediction of point of liquid loading at operations. Loading will be eradicated if the producing gas flow rate is greater than the critical flow rate. The producing gas flow rates to lift the liquids from the bottom to the surface were 0.0331m3/s, 0.0329 m3/s, 0.0332 m3/s, 0.0335 m3/s, 0.0335 m3/s, 0.0336 m3/s, 0.0337 m3/s and 0.0339 m3/s respectively. The corresponding critical gas rates from the bottom to surface were 0.000327m3/s, 0.000342 m3/s, 0.000331 m3/s, 0.000334 m3/s, 0.000332 m3/s, 0.000328 m3/s, 0.000304 m3/s and 0.000294m3/s respectively. The critical velocity and rates at the wellhead were the controlling factors for liquid loading. The critical velocity a t the wellhead was recorded as 0.23m/s and the critical flow rate at the surface was 0.000294 m3/s, respectively. Whenever the critical gas velocity is greater than the producing gas velocity, liquid fall-back occurs. In conclusion, liquid loading is eradicated as the producing gas velocities are greater than the critical velocities that can lift the liquids from the bottom to the surface. It was recommended among others that the engineering simulation software (HYSYS) should be used for controlling emulsions droplets characteristics of oil and gas wells with a view of determining stable conditions for achieving a better performance.
Keywords: Emulsion droplets, Oil and Gas, production line