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Results
Abstract The objective of the paper is to present the success story of carrying out an in-line inspection (ILI) on a 50 years old offshore subsea flare line. The project was particularly challenging because the 30" flare line had no pigging facilities, a reducer, a subsea tie-in connection, as well as other restrictions. The paper shall outline the approach and methodology adopted to conduct the inspection in a safe and successful manner while adhering to the company and government health, safety, and environmental regulations and meeting the shutdown window. The 1 km long 30" flare line runs from a collector-separator platform to a flare tower. A site survey was conducted to identify process, space, and rigging related requirements. The shutdown window was allotted and fixed by the production teams. The line was first flushed to remove the hydrocarbons using a pumping spread mounted on a support vessel. This was followed by various modification works in addition to rigging up the temporary pigging traps. The works enlisted the help of support vessels and scaffolding teams. Extra controls were implemented due to the low maximum allowable operating pressure and the dirty pigging water in order to safeguard the property and environment. Eventually, 22 cleaning pigs were launched a in a train fashion. An Ultrasonic (UT) ILI tool was then used to gather information on the pipeline. Finally, the pipeline was dried using foam pigs. The operation was a success mainly because of the planning factor. Many activities were integrated including the availability of a maintenance barge which played a huge role in the operation. This was the first pigging operation on the flare line which was commissioned in 1971 - a total of 185 kg of debris was collected. Moreover, the UT inspection provided quantitative data which enabled an accurate assessment of the subsea pipeline integrity status. It is estimated that USD 4 million were saved by completing the works mainly through efficient planning and utilization of in-house available resources. The inspection results will form a cornerstone in development of future asset replacement plans for this category of flare lines. The success has created potential savings for another 21 challenging flare lines planned to be inspected for the next 5 years. The approach highlights the steps taken to conduct the quantitative ILI of an aged flare line (50 years old), with various inherent challenges, to explore the possibility of accurately inspecting and extending the remnant life of aged assets that are un-piggable, in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. Thus, resulting in positive impacts in savings and further optimizations in the asset replacement plans
Abstract Pig detector plays an important role in the Commissioning and handover of Pipelines project. This paper addresses the latest trends in Pig Detectors. In addition, this paper covers the commissioning challenges and mitigations in major Offshore Brownfield Project involving new pipelines with 80 nos of Pig Detectors and accessories. Pipelines represent a considerable investment on behalf of the End User and can often prove strategic to countries and governments. Pipelines are generally accepted as being the most efficient method of transporting fluids across distances. Pipelines transport various kinds of fluids viz. oil, gas, multiphase, water. Pipeline pigging is an important operation for enhancing reliability and durability of pipeline, adopted worldwide. It has a major impact on the operational and technical integrity of a pipeline. Pigging Operation is high-risk activity in-terms of process safety. The Pigging can be safely initiated only when safe operating conditions are maintained at both ends of pipeline. Pigging involves human intervention and thus increasing personnel risk. Pipeline pigging operations is performed during pre-commissioning, start-up, normal operations and integrity assurance.
Abstract In challenging times of 2020 and inconsistency with the background of a low-oil-price environment, innovative ideas needed to give a second life to all available resources such as unconventional, shallow, depleted, mature, heavy oil and by bypassed oil with a cost-effective manner (usually innovation created to fit needs). U-shaped well a combined with pigging lifting (conceptual study for new artificial lift method) is one of the selected scenarios studied under the objective of innovative, low-cost techniques to overcome many projects challenges. U shaped well accompanied with a new pigging artificial lift method are new concept studied in this lab work. Conceptual model presents many benefits of this new application such as solving most of the current wells and production challenges. The study reflects more well control with two paths, better well stimulation, low fracturing pressure and double rates, inject and lift chemical for clean without intervention, double well life "additional strings", new recompletions without rig, two horizontal side used for production or injection, step change for reservoir monitoring, improving artificial lift performance and allow creating Pigging lift "New artificial lift concept". U shaped well accompanied with a new pigging artificial lift method study shows the following progress: 1. Additional down hole barrier from the deepest point and additional open side keep the well under control more over minimize the existing well control killing procedures with low cost and risk in addition to discarding the CT operations for killing or prepare the well for W/O. 2. Decreasing stimulation pressures needs (double injection rates) and overcome the existing accessibility challenges 3. Allowing pull heading stimulation w/less displacement time and high rate and chimerical batch pumping from one side to another increase well life and eliminate PKRs risk as chimerical batches will be pigger, easier and faster. 4. Additional down hole monitoring system allowing uniform stimulation and discarding the CT operations for well stimulation and cleaning, 5. Avoiding post stimulation damage throughout fast clean-up 6. Ability to stimulate from one side with artificial lift from other side Avoiding the corrosion and erosion by faster operations 7. Allow faster plug and perf. multistage fracturing technology and overcome the unconventional well fracturing which required rate and pressure 8. Eliminate rig usage to pull the frac string to run completions 9. Step change for reservoir mentoring without S/D and real-time Logging, Sampling The deployment of U Shaped Well allows new artificial lift concept (Pigging lift) to apply. This new approach led to improved wells performance also raising efficiency of the use of the existing resources besides saving time and in return cost. This approach helps in improving well utilization and efficiency levels.
- Asia (1.00)
- Europe (0.93)
- North America > United States > Texas (0.46)
- Oceania > Australia > Victoria > Bass Strait > Otway Basin > VIC/L22 > Minerva Field (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > West Gulf Coast Tertiary Basin > Eagle Ford Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > Sabinas - Rio Grande Basin > Eagle Ford Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > Maverick Basin > Eagle Ford Shale Formation (0.99)
Morphological Adaptation for Speed Control of Pipeline Inspection Gauges MC-PIG
Phodapol, Sujet (Bio-inspired Robotics and Neural Engineering BRAIN Laboratory School of Information Science & Technology IST Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology VISTEC) | Suthisomboon, Tachadol (AI and Robotics Ventures Co. Ltd.) | Kosanunt, Pong (AI and Robotics Ventures Co. Ltd.) | Vongasemjit, Ravipas (AI and Robotics Ventures Co. Ltd.) | Janbanjong, Petch (PTT Exploration and Production PLC) | Manoonpong, Poramate (Bio-inspired Robotics and Neural Engineering BRAIN Laboratory School of Information Science & Technology IST Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology VISTEC)
Abstract Passive and active hybrid pipeline inspection gauges (PIGs) have been used for in-pipe inspection. While a passive PIG cannot control its speed, the hybrid version can achieve this by using an integrated valve specifically designed and embedded in the PIG. This study proposes a generic new method for speed adaptation in PIGs (called MC-PIG) by introducing a generic, modular, controllable, external valve unit add-on for attaching to existing conventional (passive) PIGs with minimal change. The MC-PIG method is based on the principle of morphological computation with closed-loop control. It is achieved by regulating/computing the PIG's morphology (i.e., a modular rotary valve unit add-on) to control bypass flow. Adjustment of the valve angle can affect the flow rate passing through the PIG, resulting in speed regulation ability. We use numerical simulation with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to investigate and analyze the speed of a simulated PIG with the valve unit adjusted by proportional-integral (PI) control under various in-pipe pressure conditions. Our simulation experiments are performed under different operating conditions in three pipe sizes (16โณ, 18โณ, and 22โณ in diameter) to manifest the speed adaptation of the PIG with the modular valve unit add-on and PI control. Our results show that the PIG can effectively perform real-time adaptation (i.e., adjusting its valve angle) to maintain the desired speed. The valve design can be adjusted from 5 degrees (closed valve, resulting in high moving speed) to a maximum of 45 degrees (fully open valve, resulting in low moving speed). The speed of the PIG can be regulated from 0.59 m/s to 3.88 m/s in a 16โณ pipe at 4.38 m/s (in-pipe fluid velocity), 2500 kPa (operating pressure), and 62 ยฐC (operating temperature). Finally, the MC-PIG method is validated using a 3D-printed prototype in a 6โณ pipe. Through the investigation, we observed that two factors influence speed adaptation; the pressure drop coefficient and friction of the PIG and pipeline. In conclusion, the results from the simulation and prototype show close characteristics with an acceptable error.
Abstract Deposition formation inside pipelines is a major and growing problem in the oil and gas industry. The optimal use of prevention and remediation tools such as chemical inhibitors and cleaning processes could lead to major savings due to minimized production problems and optimized pipe cleaning costs. This requires characterization and quantification of the actual deposits inside pipelines and downholes. Recently, a novel deposition inline inspection sensor moving inside the pipeline has been proposed based on "inside-out" electrical tomography. In this sensor, the distribution of electrical properties between the sensor and the pipe wall are estimated based on measurements carried out using electrodes around the sensor. In this study, the next generation sensor moving inside the pipeline is described and a deep neural network based approach to deposit estimation is introduced. Test results from a 70 m long semi-industrial scale flow loop containing paraffin wax and calcium carbonate deposits of different thicknesses are shown. Challenges include the changing position and orientation of the sensor during the low. The results show that the sensor is able to measure both deposit thickness and type with good accuracy which indicates that the sensor is suitable for industrial use. Accurate knowledge about deposits allows future blockage prevention, detecting build-up locations in the early phase, increasing accuracy of multi-phase flow and deposition models, optimization of chemical use and validation of deposit cleaning tools before integrity campaigns leading to overall reduced pipeline operation costs.
- North America > United States > Texas (0.29)
- Europe > United Kingdom (0.28)
Integrated Process Safety and Control in Pigging Operations - A Case Study on Smart Keyless System
Kannan, Srinivasan (National Petroleum Construction Company) | Joshi, Chahit (National Petroleum Construction Company) | Subramanian, Senthilkumar (National Petroleum Construction Company) | Mudu, Balu (National Petroleum Construction Company) | Selvaraj Edwin, Jose (National Petroleum Construction Company) | Paul, Raju (National Petroleum Construction Company) | Kamal, Faris Ragheb (National Petroleum Construction Company) | Takieddine, Oussama (National Petroleum Construction Company)
Abstract Pigging Operation is high risk activity in-terms of process safety. Pigging can be safely initiated only when safe operating conditions are maintained at both ends of pipeline. Pigging involves human intervention and thus increasing personnel risk. Deploying smart, keyless system solutions on this fully manual operation for control and safety will definitely enhance safety level. NPCC presents their design and implementation experiences of smart keyless system for pigging on a recent offshore project. Pigging involves sequential steps and imposes safety risks due to possibility of manual errors; since, significant number of steps and checks involved. High pressure, flammable/toxic gas release may leads to Catastrophic Personal, Asset and Environmental damages. Traditionally, mechanical key interlocking mechanism or similar mechanical safety interlocks deployed, which has inherent deficiencies like mechanical failures, key loss, minimum intelligence/ operator guidance. Ultimate aim is to ensure no pressure/ toxic gas inside pig-trap when opened for inserting/removal of pig-tool. Implementing smart keyless system with safety interlocks overcomes the shortfall of existing system with reliability. Safe methodology ensured through Risk based Assessment. Pipeline pigging is required mainly to maintain pipeline efficiency, avoids potential flow-assurance issues and helps in corrosion control/integrity. The key design parameters are: MOV configuration: As the operation involves a number of MOVs (around 13 MOVs per Scrapper), a 2-wire digital loop was considered with hardwired permissive signal at suitable steps. Control System configuration: Entire operation is guided by Graphics in local field-mounted HMI involving sequential logic check as well as operator acknowledgement before proceeding to next predefined step. The position status of MOVs and Pressure conditions are used in the system logic for authorization to proceed to next step. Safety Interlock configuration: Safety critical checks implemented as hardwired permissive signals for MOV operation. Interlock prevents operation of MOVs, both from Local and Remote unless the safety conditions are met. Although Pigging is a safety critical sequential process, this smart, keyless, system based sequential Pigging not only resulted in significantly safer operation, provides operator guidance and eliminates error/ negligence. This smart keyless system successfully designed, implemented and tested (FAT, IFAT & SAT) and currently in operation with Client's satisfaction. Automatic logging of pigging operation and reporting are available. Smart keyless system based interlocks is the integral part of this novel solution and allows the high-risk pigging process to be performed safely with added convenience and security of an electronically integrated system. This paper intends to present a case study based on actual project, highlighting design challenges and experience gained during execution as well as providing HSE benefits to all stakeholders in the upstream hydrocarbon industry.
Autonomous Inspection System for Anomaly Detection in Natural Gas Pipelines
Qassab, Abdullah (Engineering & Technical Services Division, ADNOC, Abu Dhabi, UAE) | Bhadran, Vishnu (Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE) | Sudevan, Vidya (Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE) | Sharma, Arjun (Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE) | Karki, Hamad (Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE) | Shukla, Amit (Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, India) | Al Habshi, Mohammed Hashem (Pipeline Network Division, ADNOC, UAE)
Abstract Oil and gas industry operates according to stringent standards that primarily strive to keep the pipeline transportation and other related operations efficiently while maintaining and practicing high standards of industrial safety. Due to which, the routine inspection and maintenance of underground/overground structures became a challenging process. Over the years, performance based integrity management programmes became popular and it have been implemented for managing the safety and environmental risks associated with hazardous oil or gas pipelines. Pipeline safety and integrity team must verify, repair and certify the integrity of pipelines that could leak or failure in the future. Internal inspection using pipeline inspection gauges (PIG) are considered expensive and the need for surface preparation procedures makes the inspection operations time consuming. Whereas, external survey operations are carried out by highly trained and certified inspection/survey team where they manually identify pipeline leakages or any visible damages. External manual inspection is conducted using various handheld devices and recorded data is later analyzed to identify and locate the possible anomalies. Relatively high surrounding temperatures and uneven terrain makes the manual survey a mundane mission. The shortcomings and the challenges of the conventional external inspection and survey mechanisms are tackled by introducing a mobile robotic platform equipped with non-invasive magnetometric diagnosis (NIMD) system which allows non-contact anomaly detection from a distance of up to 2-3m from the underground pipeline metal core without unearthing or any surface treatments such as coating removal that are performed in the conventional techniques. The proposed autonomous pipeline inspection system has various sensors that can precisely locate, navigate and detect the underground pipeline faults. A novel hierarchical controller which was developed in our previous studies was utilized and employed for the navigation of vehicle over the buried infrastructures. The effectiveness and the performance of autonomous system was tested on real field conditions and the true ability of the system was showcased to detect the underground pipeline anomalies even in extreme environmental conditions.
- Research Report > New Finding (0.46)
- Overview (0.46)
- Well Completion > Well Integrity > Subsurface corrosion (tubing, casing, completion equipment, conductor) (1.00)
- Production and Well Operations > Production Chemistry, Metallurgy and Biology > Corrosion inhibition and management (including H2S and CO2) (1.00)
- Facilities Design, Construction and Operation > Pipelines, Flowlines and Risers > Materials and corrosion (1.00)
- (2 more...)
- Information Technology > Data Science > Data Mining > Anomaly Detection (1.00)
- Information Technology > Artificial Intelligence > Robots (1.00)
Abstract Dent as a result of 3 party damage during subsea pipeline operation, is causing a local stress and strain concentration and a local significant reduction in the pipe diameter. If failure as a result of a dent is not happened immediately, it is possible that the damage can deteriorate in service and cause failure at any time after the initial impact. The challenge to the pipeline operator is the identification of the dents that may threaten the future operation and integrity of the pipeline to avoid sudden pipeline failure. A new approach developed where the simple pipeline re-assessment calculation and remaining life calculation produce negative results. An enhanced assessment technique using multiple methodologies such as Level 3 FFS assessment, flow assurance study, strain-based finite element remaining life assessment (RLA), detail corrosion and failure-mode analysis. Another approach is to prepare the repair plan to extend the chance of longer pipeline operation life. From the enhanced assessment, pipeline are assessed from many criterias and fulfilled the requirements from the pipeline operation and integrity limit. The conclusion of the assessment is a conformity that even the engineering code and standard cannot fulfill the 31% dent presence, there are any other assessment methodologies that proved to be applied under the principle and safety rule. The result is the subsea pipeline is allowable to operate safely without high probabilities of failure and keep deliver the gas as per obligation requirement.
Abstract ADNOC Onshore 24" Main Oil Spurline -1 transferring stabilized crude from Buhasa field (BUH) to MP (Mile Point)-21 hub had a defective 24" Gate Valve on the upstream side of Pig Receiver at MP-21. The Objective was to replace the defective valve with a refurbished 24" Gate Valve with minimum production impact and without the need for depressurizing /draining the entire 35km section of 24" pipeline from BUH to MP-21. A novel isolation technique using Tethered TECNOPLUG was identified and utilized for successful replacement of the defective upstream valve without causing any impact on the oil production.
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Government > Regional Government > Asia Government > Middle East Government > UAE Government (0.62)
Abstract Pigging is a process used by operators to efficiently run oil and gas pipelines. It involves PIGs short form for Pipeline Inspection Gauge, to perform various maintenance operations. PIG tool is pushed in the pipeline using the pressure inside the pipeline. This is known as the pigging process. It is used for cleaning and inspection of pipelines among other functions. PIGs are launched and received using special purpose sections installed at various locations of the pipelines called launching and receiving stations. In this paper we will be discussing the use of smart or intelligent PIGs, used for inspection of pipelines. An intelligent PIG has many sensors along its circumference to capture the information about the health of the pipeline. Some of the most used sensors used for inspection are Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL), Ultrasonic and Eddy current. PIG also contains other sensors like Gyro, Odometer used to estimate the location of the PIG and other diagnostics parameters for sensors and corresponding electronics. In this paper we are covering PIGs with MFL sensors used for the inspection. The tool contains a data storage device to store the data captured by the sensors for post processing and analysis. Once an inspection run is completed the storage device is used to download the data to computer system for analysis. Pigging companies generally use their proprietary software tools to analyze the inspection data. The data contains signatures from the inspected pipeline. A skilled analyst with the help of the software tool is able to classify the signatures. The classification is divided into known features of the pipeline like weld, magnetic marker, sleeve, flange and more. The other division is defects namely metal loss, dents and more. Efficient detection and classification of defects allows the operators to take proactive actions, increasing operational efficiency, life of pipeline and reducing chances of faults and unplanned shutdowns. Some of the critical parameters used by operators to analyze the corrosion in the pipeline are wall loss percentage due to metal loss, depth profile, repair factor and metal loss clusters. Major part of this paper covers the use of software to detect and classify different metal loss features in the pipeline.