Evaluation of Flow Assurance in Onshore Production Facilities in the Niger Delta
Igwilo Kevin Chinwuba *
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
Onwugbuchulem Chibunma Vivian
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Madonna University, Nigeria
Ohia Nnaemeka Princewill
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Flow assurance is the efficient and successful flow of fluids in pipes. Some of the flow assurance challenges that can be encountered include hydrate formation, sand production, wax precipitation, scale deposits and emulsion problems. In onshore production facilities in the Niger Delta, wax deposition is the major challenge to efficient fluid flow. Consequently, it has been the focus of research to profer effective predictive and preventive solutions to a problem that has been tackled with curative methods for decades. This paper investigated paraffinic wax deposition using laboratory tests and field simulation with PipeSim; a pipeline simulator. The tests gave wax content results of 3.73% and 4.77% for samples A and B. The Simulation gave results of 3.71% and 4.78% for samples A and B, producing a good match when compared against the test results with a difference of less than ﻪ0.05%. This paper therefore recommends the use of PipeSim simulation package for wax deposition determination and prediction especially in the absence of laboratory data in addition to properly scheduled pigging and solvent injections to check wax deposition in facilities handling waxy crude oil.
Keywords: Flow assurance, wax deposition, laboratory test, pipe sim, simulation, waxy crude oil, Niger delta