Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Copyright
1983 Offshore
Technology
Conference
OTC in Houston,
than 300 words.
Texas.
May 2-5,
Abstract
la subject
to correction
by the author.
Permission
to
Ve= c/*
where
V. = the maximum allowable erosional velocity in ft/sec
P = the density of fluid in lb/cu ft at flowing conditions of
temperature and pressure
C = a constant generally known as the C factor, is in the
range of 100 to 125
Ve=clfi
. . . . . . . . . . . . ...(1)
where
A method for calculating erosion damage as a function of fluid and flow characteristics is proposed. This
approach can be used to calculate a limiting flow velocity for
any specified allowable erosion rate.
Introduction
The production of hydrocarbons from underground
reservoirs is associated mainly with the flow of a liquid (oil
and water), gas (natural gas), and/or solid (sand). This flow
situation is essentially one of a liquid-gas, two-phase flow
with entrained solid particles. When the fluid flow in a pipe is
3{1
\/Fl
.GLWW,
CWITV
I-00.,lMITATlnN.~
,0
. . ..-
..-
Ff)R
..
nFFSHORF
-.
. .
.
.
.
.-
WFI-LS
..
nr~
-r-
Erosion Mechanisms
Erosion is defined as the physical removal of material
from the surface. This is different from corrosion, which
involves material removal by chemical or electrochemical
reaction. The material removal by erosion is caused by one
or more of the following:
B h16
7(3)
P
B
V=%
of API Erosional
to avoid removing
corrosion-
Jzm_
~-~
. . . . . . . . . . ...(2)
where
V
The total pressure drop along the flow path (AP) is composed of four components. These are the pressure drops in
the reservoir, across the completion, along the production
tubing, and across any restriction. A typical total pressure
372
OTC 4485
where
T
f
F(E)
ate quation:
_KWV2~
gP
Equation (6) has the same form as the API empirical Equation (1). The value of C based on this criterion is far higher
than that proposed by the API equation. It is clear from the
above discussion, therefore, that the current API erosional
velocity limitation seems to be extremely conservative.
. (7)
where
U
W
V
P
13
=
=
=
=
=
= a nondimensional
erosive wear coefficient.
Rabinowicz12 has shown by statistical analysis of
the experimentally determined K values that the
mean value is 0.0103. A reasonable value for K in
the case of the producing well system can be based
on mean plus two standard deviation. This value for
K is 0.071.
= the gravitational constant (32.2 ft/sec2)
0.75.
the erosion
VELOCITY
~=
K(0.65W)V2
gP(m/4dz)
(~)
LIMITATIONS
FOR OFFSHORE
A.
mpy)
barrel of sand = 945
ft/sec2)
units
Conclusions
1. Erosion damage in gas-producing wells occurs primarily
due to solid particle impingement.
I.36
x106
. . . . . . . . . . . . ...(9)
OTC 4
(8)
where
h = erosion rate (roils per year,
W = sand flow rate (bbl/month;
pounds)
V = fluid flow velocity (ft/see)
P = hardness (psi)
d = pipe diameter (inches)
g = gravitational constant (32.2
A = correction factor for proper
WELLS
-. . . . . . . . ..(10)
Acknowledgements
Comparison between the predicted erosion rate using Equation (1O) and experimental data developed as part
of API -OSAPR- project 2 on sand erosion by Texas A&M
University Research Centeri4 is shown in Table 2. The
results illustrate the validity of Equation (1O) in predicting
sand erosion rates. On the average, Equation (1O)overestimates the erosion rates by a factor of 1.44.
..:.;
References
API RPI 4E, Recommended Practice for Design and
Installation of Offshore Production Platform Piping System, Third Ed., December 1981.
. . . . . ..(11)
+$
(2)
4Baker, D. W.; Jolliffe, K. H.; and Pearson, D., The Resistance of Materials to Impact Erosion Damage, Phil
Trans. Roy. Sot., London, Vol. 260A, p. 168, (1966).
v=%(3)
a-,
s/q
ITC
4485
.Venkatesh
..------ M.. Salama
.
...and
..
Eswarahalli S.
Mamrkmh
where
U
v
=
=
=
=
=
Considering
. . . . . . . . . . . . (Al -2)
11Rabinowicz, E., The Wear Equation for Erosion of Metals by Abrasive Particles, Proc. Fifth Int. Conf. on Erosion by Liquid and Solid Impact, Cambridge, England, p.
38-1, (1979).
h=:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Al -3)
By substitution,
Equation (Al-1)
h=~~~2
V7=%+
APPENDIX
(A-5)
1
V=v
2Pg
U=W2
14Weiner, P. D., and Tone, G. C., Detection and Prevention of Sand Erosion of Production Equipment, API
OSAPR Project No. 2, Research Report, Texas A&M
University, College Station, Texas, 1976.
15Griffith, P., and Rabinowicz,
munication.
. . . . . ..(A1-4)
(
2PV2
2
(27 gP ~2C)
(A1-6)
. . . . .. (Al-l)
V=*
_
-
375
(A-7)
s3i?i?ei?l?i?i2i?i?8s8. . . 8
.
mlcucNc9d-lnlnmul