Exercise 1 Supplement

This part of the exercise is intended to demonstrate some of the additional facilities
available within the PIPESYS. Examples are given for:
1) Pigging Slug Size
2) Compressor
3) Side Stream
4) Cooldown Temperature
Other PIPESYS in-line facilities are pumps, heaters, coolers, regulators, fittings, unitX
and specialty calculations erosion velocity and severe slugging check

1) Pigging Slug Sizing in PIPESYS

NEOTECs PIPESYS provides a facility to calculate the size of a slug produced by
pigging the line. This is usually the worst case slug size that is designed for. Some
operators will also want to consider if terrain-induced slugs are expected to be a problem
and will also complete a dynamic pipeline simulation as well.
Once you have completed Exercise 1 (Gas Condensate Pipeline):
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Go to the Elevation Profile in the PIPESYS unit.

Go to the first line on the profile and click on the Pipe cell on the left.
Go to the drop down and select Pig Launcher.
Next go to the last line (empty) in the elevation profile
Go to the drop down list and select Pigging Slug Catcher

The PIPESYS segment will automatically recalculate and display the Pigging Slug Size
Estimation as below:

Neotecs Slug Size Estimation takes into account the total liquid holdup in the pipeline as
well as the volume of liquid produced during the transit time for the pig. The routine
provides the user with a range of answers relating to the pig velocity as a fraction of gas
velocity. For flat terrain and lower liquid hold ups, the pig could travel at 90-100% of the
gas velocity. For hilly terrain and large liquid hold-up fractions, the pig will travel as low
as 50-60% of the gas velocity as the gas pressures up and packs behind the pig.
This calculation is dependent on the accuracy liquid hold up correlation chosen AND if
the pipeline is in a steady-state condition. One should always check the liquid transit time
to determine how long it takes for liquid to travel through the line. If it is excessively
long (many days) it may be that the liquid hold calculated is never achieved since the line
is never at steady-state. This can be found in the Miscellaneous section of the output
report (page 11 of 15 in this example) shown below at a rate of 50 MMSCFD.

1A) Calculating The Possible Slug Volume During a Rate Increase

A slug can also be generated when the pipeline experiences a rate increase. In this
example, lets assume that the rate increases from 50 MMSCFD to 90 MMSCFD. The
liquid hold up in the line will decrease due to the increase in gas velocity. Use the
following to calculate the slug size.
At 50 MMSFCD
Total Liquid Hold Up =
Liquid Flow Rate at Pipeline Outlet =
At 90 MMSCFD
Total Liquid Hold Up =
Gas Transit Time =
Worst Case Volume of Slug from rate increase
= (Hold-up at low rate) - (Hold-up at high rate) - (Liquid flow rate) *gas transit time
.
Shown below is the liquid hold-up for the 90 MMSCFD case.

The Separator / Slug Catcher must be designed to handle the peak liquid flow that results
from a flow rate change, and not simply the liquid flow from the maximum expected
throughput. The peak liquid flow can be reduced by increasing the flow rate more slowly,
if this is a feasible option. If the line is expected to be pigged, it is likely that the pigging
slug size will be the size-determining factor, rather than the effects of flow rate changes.
2) Installing an In-line Compressor
PIPESYS allows the user to input compressors and side streams directly into the
elevation profile. This is a convenient feature for the pipeline engineer who would like to
see his full pipeline, from start to finish, within one PIPESYS unit. This allows the plots
and output reports to be continuous for the pipeline analysis. Besides this, the other
differences between the PIPESYS in-line compressor and the HYSYS compressor are:
- the PIPESYS compressor can be multi-stage, while the HYSYS compressor is only
single stage, this is VERY convenient for multistage compressors.
- PIPESYS allows limits to be placed on the discharge pressure or horsepower
respectively.
- PIPESYS gives the user the option to specify both the interstage and after cooling
limits, and computes the theoretical cooling necessary to obtain these constraints.
- PIPESYS compressor allows the user to enter optional mechanical losses.
- PIPESYS compressor will report the amount of liquid it removes at each stage.
It is easy to install a PIPESYS compressor. For this example, go to the Elevation profile
and click on the elevation point where the pipeline comes on shore. Go to the drop down
menu and select Compressor. Enter in the following data:
Specified Discharge Pressure: 2000 psia
Max Discharge Temperature: 90 F

Max Interstage Temperature: 90 F

Number of Stages: 2
Adiabatic Efficiency: 0.75
Fuel Requirement: 2% of throughput
Overall Mechanical Efficiency = .97
When through your power requirements and results should look like this for the
compressor:

3) Adding a Side Stream

Next, lets assume another gas stream OF THE SAME COMPOSITION(this is a
requirement of the PIPESYS side stream) enters the line just before the compressor at a
rate of 50 MMSCFD. To input a side stream, go to the elevation profile and click on the
compressor elevation point. Go to the drop down menu and select Side Stream. Under the
Parameters Tab enter a Molar Flow Rate of 50 MMSCFD.
View the plots now to see the new temperature and pressure profiles as well as the new
gas velocities.

4) Temperature Cooldown
This utility calculates the temperature profile for a PIPESYS unit after a shut-down and
the fluid in the pipe begins to cool down to the ambient temperature. PIPESYS gives the
user two option: a) to shows the profile a given times or b) to show the time to reach a
certain temperature. This allows the operator to see the time its takes to reach hydrate or
wax deposition temperature or possible a viscosity threshold where heavy oils may not
flow.
Using the same example as before, go to the Cooldown tab and select Temperature
profiles computed at specified time after shutdown. Then enter in the times as shown
below.

The PIPESYS Unit will recalculate. Go to the Results Tab and click the Plots button.
Select the Cooldown Graph. It should look something like this: