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In addition to the more immediate operating safety hazards, such as plugging blowout preventers, blocking drillstrings,
and collapsing casing and drilling annuli, there are less obvious but very important safety hazards for removing hydrate
plugs from flow channels. Frequently, improper removal of hydrate plugs results in damage to equipment and threats to
safety of personnel.
Safety issues
Hydrates cause safety problems for two reasons (both of which are shown schematically in Figs. 1.1a and 1.1b):
Upon removal, when hydrate plugs are depressurized improperly, with large pressure gradients across the plug,
hydrate projectiles frequently erupt from pipes
When hydrates are heated, large confined pressure increases cause pipe ruptures. [1]
The most common way to remove a hydrate plug from a flow channel is by depressurization. Flow is stopped, and the line
is slowly depressurized from both ends of the plug. At atmospheric pressure, the hydrate stability temperature is invariably
less than that of the surroundings, so heat flows from the environment into the hydrate plug. The plug melts radially
inward, detaching first at the pipe wall.
Any pressure gradient across the detached plug causes it to act like a projectile, as shown in Fig. 1.1a, with measured
plug velocities up to 180 miles/hr for short distances. The hydrate has the density of ice, almost twice that of the
surrounding fluid, so at the line velocity, the plug momentum is twice that of the surrounding fluids. When the hydrate
projectile encounters an obstruction or change in flow direction, such as a pipe elbow, bend, or valve, the resulting impact
or pressure increase frequently causes line rupture, equipment damage, fire, and potential injury or loss of life.
Fig. 1.1aHydrate safety(hydrate projectiles frequently erupt through pipes)(after King et al.)
[1]
Fig. 1.1bHydrate safety(hydrates dissociate rapidly upon heating, and large pressure increases cause pipe ruptures).
Always assume multiple hydrate plugs; there may be pressure between the plugs.
Attempting to move hydrate (or ice) plugs can cause ruptures in pipes and vessels.
While heating a plug is not normally an option for a buried or submerged pipeline, heating should always be done with
great care from the ends of the plug. Heating should be done only with assuranc e that the plug ends will not contain
the pressure.
Depressurizing a plug gradually from both ends is recommended as a safer alternative to single -sided
depressurization. However, it may be impossible to depressurize from both sides, as when only one plug end is
accessible or when a very long time is are required to depressurize a large upstream volume. In such cases, very
careful single-sided dissociation may be done by experienced personnel.
Removal recommendations
There are several recommendations regarding hydrate-plug removal, for example::
Monitor the system from early hydrate warnings, such as slush in pigging returns; changes in water rates and fluid
compositions at the separator; pressure-drop increases; and acoustic signals (pinging) of hydrates hitting the
pipelines. Before the line plugs inject methanol or glycol to prevent full flow blockage.
Pigging partially plugged lines and backpressuring plugged lines should be used with care because plug compaction
or snowplow accumulation may occur.
Locate the hydrate-plug midpoint through pressure cycles, monitoring the rate of change of upstream pressures upon
Plug detection
There are several methods of determining the temperature and pressure along various points in a flow line. [3] These
involve sophisticated methods using fiber optics, Raman spectroscopy, Brillouin backscattering, Bragg grating pressure
sensors, and acoustic hydrophones. To date, these methods have been demonstrated only under research conditions.
For hydrates in lines above the water, it is possible to locate the hydrate plug on depressurization, using infrared sensors
to determine the low temperature caused by the endothermic heat of dissociation. (See Fig. 1 [2])
Fig. 1Selective intelligent completion schematic facilitating controlled gas injection from AW/AX reservoir to the overlying
AV reservoir gas cap (completion schematic courtesy of Brunei Shell Petroleum).
Plug removal
Coiled tubing represents the primary mechanical means of freeing the hydrate plug, but the maximum coiled -tubing
distance is currently approximately 5 miles. Coiled tubing may be used to remove a substantial liquid hydrostatic head at
the hydrate face to enable depressurization. Coiled tubing may also be used to inject methanol or glycol at the face of a
hydrate plug, when density is insufficient to drive the inhibitor to the plug face.
References
1.
King, R. et al. 1994. CAPP Guidelines for the Prevention and Safe Handling of Hydrates . Calgary,