Flow Assurance Analyses for Optimum Pipeline Transportation of Gas for Use in CNG Vehicles in Nigeria

Igbojionu Anthony; Anyadiegwu Charley; Anyanwu Emmanuel; Obah Boniface; Ukwujiagu Chinedu; Muonagor Chukwuemeka

doi:doi:10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14

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Flow Assurance Analyses for Optimum Pipeline Transportation of Gas for Use in CNG Vehicles in Nigeria

Igbojionu Anthony, Anyadiegwu Charley, Anyanwu Emmanuel, Obah Boniface, Ukwujiagu Chinedu, Muonagor Chukwuemeka

Published in Petroleum Science and Engineering (Volume 3, Issue 1)

Received: 21 March 2019 Accepted: 23 April 2019 Published: 23 May 2019

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Abstract

The objective of this work is to conduct flow assurance analyses for optimum transportation of gas through pipelines for use in CNG vehicles in Nigeria. Port Harcourt – Owerri – Onitsha expressway is used as case. The work is for a pipeline network that would be laid from a gas treatment plant about 10km off the Port Harcourt - Owerri – Onitsha expressway to the five CNG refueling stations installed along the route for refilling the CNG vehicles. Flow assurance analyses include analyses on: condensate drop-out prevention; hydrate formation prevention; erosion prevention; slug formation tendency; and leak detection. They are performed to ensure that solids or liquids do not deposit in the pipeline. Condensate drop-out prevention analysis is conducted to determine the conditions within which hydrocarbon liquids would not form in the pipeline during the transportation of the gas. Hydrate formation is checked to establish the temperatures and pressures at which hydrate would not deposit in the pipeline. Erosion prevention analysis is performed to determine the velocity profile above which erosion cannot occur in the pipe. Slug formation tendency is evaluated to ensure that slugs do not form in the pipe. Pipeline leak is also checked by generating pressure profile that would govern the flow of gas in the pipe and help determine any possible leak of gas from the pipeline. The results of the analyses indicate that: liquid drop-out will not occur in the pipe if the temperature of the gas does not go below 65.73°F; once the temperature and pressure of the gas remain outside the hydrate curve, hydrate will not form in the pipe; the velocity profile along the pipe length is far higher than the erosional velocity therefore the possibility of erosion occurring in the pipe is highly minimal; slugs cannot form in the pipe since the fluid remains in single phase throughout the transportation in the pipe; with the pressure profile generated; leak detection is made easy by installing five pressure gauges at different lengths of the pipe and recording the expected pressures at these lengths. It is further observed from the work that these flow assurance parameters and tests are highly indispensable in gas transportation as the results of the analyses help the engineer to apply all precautionary measures to ensure that solids or liquids do not deposit in the pipeline. Recommendations are also made for the optimum operating conditions based on the flow assurance analyses.

Published in	Petroleum Science and Engineering (Volume 3, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14
Page(s)	17-28
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

CNG, Transportation, Pipeline, Hydrate, Erosion, Leak, Condensate, Slug, Phase Envelop

References

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[2]	Brown, M. R. (1990). Large Capacity Separators More Susceptible to Foam Problem. Report of National Tank Co. Tulsa, OK, 28th September, 60.
[3]	Eromosele, N. (1995). Accounting for Petroleum and Petrochemical Operations. The Napter Quarterly Magazine of the NNPC, vol xxvi, No. 1, First Quarter.
[4]	Gaius-Obaseki, J. E. (2001). CNG as an Alternative Fuel for Nigeria. A Lead Paper Presented at NAICE of SPE, Abuja, August 6-8.
[5]	Hauseh, G. W. (1986). Tower Packing in the Gas Processing Industry. 36th Cond. Conference, 3rd March, 1986, UNI-OKLa, Norman, Oklahoma.
[6]	Maddox, R. N (1974). Gas and Liquid Sweetening. 2nd Edition Norman, OK: Campbell Petroleum Series, 1974.
[7]	Abdel-Aal, H. K., Aggour, M. &Fahim, M. A. (2003). Petroleum and Gas Field Processing. Marcel Dekker Inc; New York Basel: 317 – 329.
[8]	Tobin, J. and Shambaugh, P. (2006). Natural Gas Processing: The Crucial Link between Natural Gas Production and its Transportation to Market. Energy Information Administration EIA), Office of Oil and Gas, January 2006.
[9]	Mearkeltor, K. (2011). Natural Gas Sweetening Process Design. School of Doctoral Studies (European Union) Journal, 2011.
[10]	NGC (2010). Nigeria Gas Company Limited Report. 2010.
[11]	Igbojionu, A. C. and Dosunmu, A. (2001). Utilization of Natural Gas as Automotive Fuel in Nigeria. A Corporate Paper presented at NAICE of SPE, Abuja, Nigeria, August, 6-8.
[12]	Aspen HYSYS (2013). HYSYS Version V3.2. Aspen Technology Incorporated, www.aspentech.com.
[13]	Petroleum Experts Limited (2013). PVTP – Fluid Thermodynamics Package. PVTP Version 9.5. www.petex.com.
[14]	Muammer, A. A. A. (2013). Slug Velocity Measurement and Flow Regime Recognition by Using Acoustic Emission Technology. PhD Thesis, School of Engineering, Cranfield University College Road, Cranfield MK43 0AL, United Kingdom, July, 2013.
[15]	American Petroleum Institute (2007). Pipeline Recommended Practices (RP). Retrieved 2018/09/09 www.api.org.
[16]	Ukwujiagu, C. M. (2015). Evaluation of a Depleted Oil Reservoir for Natural Gas Transmission System. Thesis Submitted to the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Award of Master of Engineering (M. Eng) Petroleum Engineering.

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Igbojionu Anthony, Anyadiegwu Charley, Anyanwu Emmanuel, Obah Boniface, Ukwujiagu Chinedu, et al. (2019). Flow Assurance Analyses for Optimum Pipeline Transportation of Gas for Use in CNG Vehicles in Nigeria. Petroleum Science and Engineering, 3(1), 17-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14

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ACS Style

Igbojionu Anthony; Anyadiegwu Charley; Anyanwu Emmanuel; Obah Boniface; Ukwujiagu Chinedu, et al. Flow Assurance Analyses for Optimum Pipeline Transportation of Gas for Use in CNG Vehicles in Nigeria. Pet. Sci. Eng. 2019, 3(1), 17-28. doi: 10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14

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AMA Style

Igbojionu Anthony, Anyadiegwu Charley, Anyanwu Emmanuel, Obah Boniface, Ukwujiagu Chinedu, et al. Flow Assurance Analyses for Optimum Pipeline Transportation of Gas for Use in CNG Vehicles in Nigeria. Pet Sci Eng. 2019;3(1):17-28. doi: 10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14

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@article{10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14,
  author = {Igbojionu Anthony and Anyadiegwu Charley and Anyanwu Emmanuel and Obah Boniface and Ukwujiagu Chinedu and Muonagor Chukwuemeka},
  title = {Flow Assurance Analyses for Optimum Pipeline Transportation of Gas for Use in CNG Vehicles in Nigeria},
  journal = {Petroleum Science and Engineering},
  volume = {3},
  number = {1},
  pages = {17-28},
  doi = {10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pse.20190301.14},
  abstract = {The objective of this work is to conduct flow assurance analyses for optimum transportation of gas through pipelines for use in CNG vehicles in Nigeria. Port Harcourt – Owerri – Onitsha expressway is used as case. The work is for a pipeline network that would be laid from a gas treatment plant about 10km off the Port Harcourt - Owerri – Onitsha expressway to the five CNG refueling stations installed along the route for refilling the CNG vehicles. Flow assurance analyses include analyses on: condensate drop-out prevention; hydrate formation prevention; erosion prevention; slug formation tendency; and leak detection. They are performed to ensure that solids or liquids do not deposit in the pipeline. Condensate drop-out prevention analysis is conducted to determine the conditions within which hydrocarbon liquids would not form in the pipeline during the transportation of the gas. Hydrate formation is checked to establish the temperatures and pressures at which hydrate would not deposit in the pipeline. Erosion prevention analysis is performed to determine the velocity profile above which erosion cannot occur in the pipe. Slug formation tendency is evaluated to ensure that slugs do not form in the pipe. Pipeline leak is also checked by generating pressure profile that would govern the flow of gas in the pipe and help determine any possible leak of gas from the pipeline. The results of the analyses indicate that: liquid drop-out will not occur in the pipe if the temperature of the gas does not go below 65.73°F; once the temperature and pressure of the gas remain outside the hydrate curve, hydrate will not form in the pipe; the velocity profile along the pipe length is far higher than the erosional velocity therefore the possibility of erosion occurring in the pipe is highly minimal; slugs cannot form in the pipe since the fluid remains in single phase throughout the transportation in the pipe; with the pressure profile generated; leak detection is made easy by installing five pressure gauges at different lengths of the pipe and recording the expected pressures at these lengths. It is further observed from the work that these flow assurance parameters and tests are highly indispensable in gas transportation as the results of the analyses help the engineer to apply all precautionary measures to ensure that solids or liquids do not deposit in the pipeline. Recommendations are also made for the optimum operating conditions based on the flow assurance analyses.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Flow Assurance Analyses for Optimum Pipeline Transportation of Gas for Use in CNG Vehicles in Nigeria
AU  - Igbojionu Anthony
AU  - Anyadiegwu Charley
AU  - Anyanwu Emmanuel
AU  - Obah Boniface
AU  - Ukwujiagu Chinedu
AU  - Muonagor Chukwuemeka
Y1  - 2019/05/23
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14
T2  - Petroleum Science and Engineering
JF  - Petroleum Science and Engineering
JO  - Petroleum Science and Engineering
SP  - 17
EP  - 28
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2640-4516
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14
AB  - The objective of this work is to conduct flow assurance analyses for optimum transportation of gas through pipelines for use in CNG vehicles in Nigeria. Port Harcourt – Owerri – Onitsha expressway is used as case. The work is for a pipeline network that would be laid from a gas treatment plant about 10km off the Port Harcourt - Owerri – Onitsha expressway to the five CNG refueling stations installed along the route for refilling the CNG vehicles. Flow assurance analyses include analyses on: condensate drop-out prevention; hydrate formation prevention; erosion prevention; slug formation tendency; and leak detection. They are performed to ensure that solids or liquids do not deposit in the pipeline. Condensate drop-out prevention analysis is conducted to determine the conditions within which hydrocarbon liquids would not form in the pipeline during the transportation of the gas. Hydrate formation is checked to establish the temperatures and pressures at which hydrate would not deposit in the pipeline. Erosion prevention analysis is performed to determine the velocity profile above which erosion cannot occur in the pipe. Slug formation tendency is evaluated to ensure that slugs do not form in the pipe. Pipeline leak is also checked by generating pressure profile that would govern the flow of gas in the pipe and help determine any possible leak of gas from the pipeline. The results of the analyses indicate that: liquid drop-out will not occur in the pipe if the temperature of the gas does not go below 65.73°F; once the temperature and pressure of the gas remain outside the hydrate curve, hydrate will not form in the pipe; the velocity profile along the pipe length is far higher than the erosional velocity therefore the possibility of erosion occurring in the pipe is highly minimal; slugs cannot form in the pipe since the fluid remains in single phase throughout the transportation in the pipe; with the pressure profile generated; leak detection is made easy by installing five pressure gauges at different lengths of the pipe and recording the expected pressures at these lengths. It is further observed from the work that these flow assurance parameters and tests are highly indispensable in gas transportation as the results of the analyses help the engineer to apply all precautionary measures to ensure that solids or liquids do not deposit in the pipeline. Recommendations are also made for the optimum operating conditions based on the flow assurance analyses.
VL  - 3
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Igbojionu Anthony

Department of Petroleum Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
Anyadiegwu Charley

Department of Petroleum Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
Anyanwu Emmanuel

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
Obah Boniface

Department of Petroleum Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
Ukwujiagu Chinedu

Department of Petroleum Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
Muonagor Chukwuemeka

Department of Petroleum Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Igbojionu Anthony, Anyadiegwu Charley, Anyanwu Emmanuel, Obah Boniface, Ukwujiagu Chinedu, et al. (2019). Flow Assurance Analyses for Optimum Pipeline Transportation of Gas for Use in CNG Vehicles in Nigeria. Petroleum Science and Engineering, 3(1), 17-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14

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ACS Style

Igbojionu Anthony; Anyadiegwu Charley; Anyanwu Emmanuel; Obah Boniface; Ukwujiagu Chinedu, et al. Flow Assurance Analyses for Optimum Pipeline Transportation of Gas for Use in CNG Vehicles in Nigeria. Pet. Sci. Eng. 2019, 3(1), 17-28. doi: 10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14

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AMA Style

Igbojionu Anthony, Anyadiegwu Charley, Anyanwu Emmanuel, Obah Boniface, Ukwujiagu Chinedu, et al. Flow Assurance Analyses for Optimum Pipeline Transportation of Gas for Use in CNG Vehicles in Nigeria. Pet Sci Eng. 2019;3(1):17-28. doi: 10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14,
  author = {Igbojionu Anthony and Anyadiegwu Charley and Anyanwu Emmanuel and Obah Boniface and Ukwujiagu Chinedu and Muonagor Chukwuemeka},
  title = {Flow Assurance Analyses for Optimum Pipeline Transportation of Gas for Use in CNG Vehicles in Nigeria},
  journal = {Petroleum Science and Engineering},
  volume = {3},
  number = {1},
  pages = {17-28},
  doi = {10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pse.20190301.14},
  abstract = {The objective of this work is to conduct flow assurance analyses for optimum transportation of gas through pipelines for use in CNG vehicles in Nigeria. Port Harcourt – Owerri – Onitsha expressway is used as case. The work is for a pipeline network that would be laid from a gas treatment plant about 10km off the Port Harcourt - Owerri – Onitsha expressway to the five CNG refueling stations installed along the route for refilling the CNG vehicles. Flow assurance analyses include analyses on: condensate drop-out prevention; hydrate formation prevention; erosion prevention; slug formation tendency; and leak detection. They are performed to ensure that solids or liquids do not deposit in the pipeline. Condensate drop-out prevention analysis is conducted to determine the conditions within which hydrocarbon liquids would not form in the pipeline during the transportation of the gas. Hydrate formation is checked to establish the temperatures and pressures at which hydrate would not deposit in the pipeline. Erosion prevention analysis is performed to determine the velocity profile above which erosion cannot occur in the pipe. Slug formation tendency is evaluated to ensure that slugs do not form in the pipe. Pipeline leak is also checked by generating pressure profile that would govern the flow of gas in the pipe and help determine any possible leak of gas from the pipeline. The results of the analyses indicate that: liquid drop-out will not occur in the pipe if the temperature of the gas does not go below 65.73°F; once the temperature and pressure of the gas remain outside the hydrate curve, hydrate will not form in the pipe; the velocity profile along the pipe length is far higher than the erosional velocity therefore the possibility of erosion occurring in the pipe is highly minimal; slugs cannot form in the pipe since the fluid remains in single phase throughout the transportation in the pipe; with the pressure profile generated; leak detection is made easy by installing five pressure gauges at different lengths of the pipe and recording the expected pressures at these lengths. It is further observed from the work that these flow assurance parameters and tests are highly indispensable in gas transportation as the results of the analyses help the engineer to apply all precautionary measures to ensure that solids or liquids do not deposit in the pipeline. Recommendations are also made for the optimum operating conditions based on the flow assurance analyses.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Flow Assurance Analyses for Optimum Pipeline Transportation of Gas for Use in CNG Vehicles in Nigeria
AU  - Igbojionu Anthony
AU  - Anyadiegwu Charley
AU  - Anyanwu Emmanuel
AU  - Obah Boniface
AU  - Ukwujiagu Chinedu
AU  - Muonagor Chukwuemeka
Y1  - 2019/05/23
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14
T2  - Petroleum Science and Engineering
JF  - Petroleum Science and Engineering
JO  - Petroleum Science and Engineering
SP  - 17
EP  - 28
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2640-4516
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pse.20190301.14
AB  - The objective of this work is to conduct flow assurance analyses for optimum transportation of gas through pipelines for use in CNG vehicles in Nigeria. Port Harcourt – Owerri – Onitsha expressway is used as case. The work is for a pipeline network that would be laid from a gas treatment plant about 10km off the Port Harcourt - Owerri – Onitsha expressway to the five CNG refueling stations installed along the route for refilling the CNG vehicles. Flow assurance analyses include analyses on: condensate drop-out prevention; hydrate formation prevention; erosion prevention; slug formation tendency; and leak detection. They are performed to ensure that solids or liquids do not deposit in the pipeline. Condensate drop-out prevention analysis is conducted to determine the conditions within which hydrocarbon liquids would not form in the pipeline during the transportation of the gas. Hydrate formation is checked to establish the temperatures and pressures at which hydrate would not deposit in the pipeline. Erosion prevention analysis is performed to determine the velocity profile above which erosion cannot occur in the pipe. Slug formation tendency is evaluated to ensure that slugs do not form in the pipe. Pipeline leak is also checked by generating pressure profile that would govern the flow of gas in the pipe and help determine any possible leak of gas from the pipeline. The results of the analyses indicate that: liquid drop-out will not occur in the pipe if the temperature of the gas does not go below 65.73°F; once the temperature and pressure of the gas remain outside the hydrate curve, hydrate will not form in the pipe; the velocity profile along the pipe length is far higher than the erosional velocity therefore the possibility of erosion occurring in the pipe is highly minimal; slugs cannot form in the pipe since the fluid remains in single phase throughout the transportation in the pipe; with the pressure profile generated; leak detection is made easy by installing five pressure gauges at different lengths of the pipe and recording the expected pressures at these lengths. It is further observed from the work that these flow assurance parameters and tests are highly indispensable in gas transportation as the results of the analyses help the engineer to apply all precautionary measures to ensure that solids or liquids do not deposit in the pipeline. Recommendations are also made for the optimum operating conditions based on the flow assurance analyses.
VL  - 3
IS  - 1
ER  -

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