Performance of Fluid Flow and Thermal Models for Subsea Satellite Wells

Abstract

Abstract Accurate calculation of pressure and temperature profiles is crucial for correctly predicting production rates and wax deposition and hydrate plugging tendencies of subsea wells and flowlines. In the present work, the commonly used empirical pressure drop correlations coupled with heat transfer models, both in the wellbore and the subsea flowlines, are evaluated against measured steady-state data from field operations. The reference data are from Campos Basin ultra-deep waters high flowrate subsea wells (from 1,000 to 1,850 m water depth, 3,280 to 6,070 ft), covering flow rates from 1,000 to 3,150 m3/d (6,280 to 20,000 bpd) through 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 in nominal diameter tubings and up to 11 km (6.8 mi) long, 6 in ID insulated flexible flowlines. Descriptions of the evaluated models, production system geometry, and fluid properties are included in the paper.