The Assessment of Potential Hydrate Formation Risk in Well Flow Lines

Abstract

The problem of increasing the resource base, which today is hampered by significant shortage of funds for exploration under the conditions of a steady decline in oil and gas output in Ukraine is particularly important. The strategy of providing reduction of consumption and increase of production of domestic gas causes the necessity to consider the problem of reserves found in deposits that have been in long-term development, and consequently transportation of quite damp gas. Danger of forming gas hydrates inside a pipeline can cause an emergency situation due to formation of hydrate cork. Thus, our study aims at assessing the potential risks of hydrate formation in pipelines of well flow lines. We selected industrial pipelines of Eastern oil and gas region to be the object of the research. We also analyzed areas of structuring of the types of hydrocarbons. For the characteristic combination of selected indicators defined areas of increased risk of hydrate formation in well flow line corks. We can conclude the highest risk of hydrate formation processes to occur in the fields of Mashivka-Shebelynka, Glynsk-Solokha and of the northern oil-and-gas-bearing-areas. Obviously, the greatest danger is to hydrate in gas fields. For condensate fields such risk is much lower because there hydrate is possible only with the specific terms of condensate. To conclude, we have identified the main reasons for hydrate formation in well flow line and also the structure of the Eastern region for oil and gas fields and areas of structuring of the types of hydrocarbons. Finally, we have defined areas of increased risk of hydrate formation in well flow line corks according to the combination of characteristic parameters.