Experimental study on sand particles accumulation, migration and separation efficiency in slug catcher

doi:10.1016/j.cjche.2020.09.059

Abstract

Abstract: Sand production often leads to the failure of production equipment on offshore platform. Therefore, a new idea has been put forward, which is installing cyclone or baffle in the internal of the slug catcher for better sand control. In this paper, an experimental study is presented, which mainly includes sand particles accumulation shape, migration law and separation performance. The results suggest that the accumulation area is mainly divided into two zones:the crowded settlement zone and the free settlement zone. The crowded settlement zone has a special shape, which can be characterized by two parameters:accumulation length and accumulation angle. Axial sampling analysis shows obvious particle classification. Median particle size decreases with the increase of the axial distance, and the range of particle size distribution narrows gradually. The separation experiment shows that the gas velocity has the greatest influence on the separation efficiency. When the gas velocity is 14 m·s^-1, the separation efficiency drops sharply, which can be abated by installing cyclone separator. In addition, the separation efficiency tends to be a constant under different gas velocities by installing baffle with appropriate height. Then the effectiveness and rationality of installing internal components can be strongly proved. All these provide important guidance for maximizing the sand control function of the slug catcher.

Key words: Slug catcher, Particle size distribution, Separation efficiency, Sedimentation, Cyclone separator, Baffle

摘要： Sand production often leads to the failure of production equipment on offshore platform. Therefore, a new idea has been put forward, which is installing cyclone or baffle in the internal of the slug catcher for better sand control. In this paper, an experimental study is presented, which mainly includes sand particles accumulation shape, migration law and separation performance. The results suggest that the accumulation area is mainly divided into two zones:the crowded settlement zone and the free settlement zone. The crowded settlement zone has a special shape, which can be characterized by two parameters:accumulation length and accumulation angle. Axial sampling analysis shows obvious particle classification. Median particle size decreases with the increase of the axial distance, and the range of particle size distribution narrows gradually. The separation experiment shows that the gas velocity has the greatest influence on the separation efficiency. When the gas velocity is 14 m·s^-1, the separation efficiency drops sharply, which can be abated by installing cyclone separator. In addition, the separation efficiency tends to be a constant under different gas velocities by installing baffle with appropriate height. Then the effectiveness and rationality of installing internal components can be strongly proved. All these provide important guidance for maximizing the sand control function of the slug catcher.

关键词: Slug catcher, Particle size distribution, Separation efficiency, Sedimentation, Cyclone separator, Baffle

Xianchao Liang, Limin He, Xiaoming Luo, Qingping Li, Yuanpeng You, Yiqiu Xu. Experimental study on sand particles accumulation, migration and separation efficiency in slug catcher[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2021, 32(4): 134-143.

References

[1] F. Zhou, Y. Zong, Y. Liu, X. Yang, C. Xiong, S. Zhang, L. Sun, J. Wang, J. Li, Z. Guang, Application and study of fine-Silty sand control technique using fibercomplex high-pressure pack in Sebei gas reservoir, In:SPE International Symposium and Exhibition on Formation Damage Contro, Lafayette (2006).
[2] M.S.A. Perera, P.G. Ranjith, T.D. Rathnaweera, G.P.D.D. Silva, T. Liu, An experimental study to quantify sand production during oil recovery from unconsolidated quicksand formations, Petrol. Explor. Dev. 44(5) (2017) 860-865.
[3] P.G. Ranjith, M.S.A. Perera, W.K.G. Perera, B. Wu, S.K. Choi, Effective parameters for sand production in unconsolidated formations:An experimental study, J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 105(Complete) (2013) 34-42.
[4] J.K. Edwards, B.S. Mclaury, S.A. Shirazi, Modeling solid particle erosion in elbows and plugged tees, J. Energy Resour. Technol.-Trans. ASME 123(4) (2001) 277-284.
[5] X. Chen, B.S. Mclaury, S.A. Shirazi, Numerical and experimental investigation of the relative erosion severity between plugged tees and elbows in dilute gas/solid two-phase flow, Wear 261(7-8) (2006) 715-729.
[6] Z. Davood, S. Saeed, F. Jalal, S. Soroush, Experimental study of sand production and permeability enhancement of unconsolidated rocks under different stress conditions, J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 181(2019) 106238.
[7] Y.Q. Song, P.G. Ranjith, B.L. Wu, Development and experimental validation of a computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method sand production model, J. Nat. Gas Sci. Eng. 73(2020) 103052.
[8] A. Shabdirova, N.H. Minh, Y. Zhao, A sand production prediction model for weak sandstone reservoir in Kazakhstan, JRMGE 11(4) (2019) 760-769.
[9] E. Agunloye, E. Utunedi, Optimizing sand control design using sand screen retention texting, In:SPE Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition, Lagos, 2014.
[10] Z. Zhang, An advanced Sand Control Technology for Heavy Oil Reservoirs, Ms. Thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, 2017.
[11] C.Y. Ma, J.G. Deng, X.L. Dong, D.Z. Sun, Z. Feng, C. Luo, Q.Z. Xiao, J.Y. Chen, A new laboratory protocol to study the plugging and sand control performance of sand control screens, J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 184(2019) (2020) 106548.
[12] F.C. Deng, X.R. Li, L. He, Y.C. Feng, Experimental evaluation of metal foam for sand control, J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 176(2019) 1152-1160.
[13] S. Mondal, C.H. Wu, M.M. Sharma, R.A. Chanpura, M. Parlar, J.A. Ayoub, Characterizing, designing, and selecting metal mesh screens for standalonescreen applications, SPE Drill Complet. 31(02) (2016) 85-94.
[14] D.F. Kelsall, A further study of the hydraulic cyclone, Chem. Eng. Sci. 2(6) (1953) 254-272.
[15] K. Rietema, Performance and design of hydro-cyclones, Chem. Eng. Sci. (15) (1961) 298-325.
[16] T.C. Hsiao, D.R. Chen, L. Li, P. Greenberg, K.W. Street, Development of a multistage axial flow cyclone, Aerosol Sci. Technol. 44(4) (2010) 253-261.
[17] N. Gordon, M. Shittu, First multiphase wellhead Desander implemented on Brent delta, World Oil 218(6) (1997) 71.
[18] P.M. Hagemeijer, S. Jagernath, Hydrocyclone field tests for removal of sand from production wells in South Oman, J. Can. Pet. Technol. 42(6) (2003) 47-53.
[19] N. Yoshioka, Y. Hotta, Liquid cyclone as a hydraulic classifier, SCEJ 19(12) (1955) 623-641.
[20] C.H. Rawlins, Separating solids first-design and operation of the multiphase Desander, In:SPE Western Regional Meeting, Bakersfield (2017).
[21] H. Karami, E. Pereyra, C.F. Torres, C. Sarica, Droplet entrainment analysis of three-phase low liquid loading flow, Int. J. Multiph. Flow 89(2017) 45-56.