{"title":"Mechanisms for Controlling Sand-Induced Corrosion in Horizontal Pipe Flow of Sand, Crude Oil and Water","authors":"S. Sanni, S. S. Adefila, A. Anozie, O. Agboola","doi":"10.2174/1874834101710010220","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Background: \nThe presence of sand particles and associated water in crude oil calls for serious concern when the flow conditions leading to flow \nstratification in an upstream petroleum pipeline become significant. At such conditions, problems such as sand deposition and water \ncontainment on the pipe wall may result in consequences such as sand-induced corrosion, mechanical failure, pipe fatigue, reduced \nflow area, loss of production and pipe blockage which are still currently unresolved by conventional and current models. \nObjective: \nA modelling approach was adopted to control the conditions leading to sand-induced corrosion and other related problems caused by \nflow stratification in the upstream petroleum sector since conventional methods adopted to screen sand, only contribute to the \nproblem. Also, to date, mechanisms and models exist for other corrosion types such as CO2, H2S, acid-induced corrosion, etc. but \nnone currently exists for sand-induced corrosion. However, the concept of force-competition or dimensionless numbers was adopted \nusing a modelling approach to resolve the problem. \nMethod: \nThis research work resolves the situation by means of a three-phase model which incorporates sand, crude oil and water phases in its \nmass and momentum balance equations while taking into cognisance, the effect of eddies. The three-layer model established in this \nwork, has its origin in a two-phase sand-crude oil system and, based on current literature, a modelling approach that considers the \nflow of sand, crude oil and water has never been adopted to tackle the problem of sand-induced corrosion caused by associated water \nas a stimulant for corrosion. \nConclusion: \nThe established model gave an accuracy of 99% when results from the model were compared with sand and crude oil production data \nobtained from the field. Based on the model’s reliability, flow mechanisms/dimensionless numbers were used to ascertain critical \nflow conditions in order to be able to avoid situations leading to sand deposition, sand-induced corrosion and other related problems. \nBased on the results obtained, the estimated Euler numbers revealed that the 18 m point of the pipe is at risk due to the impact of the \nsand-deposit-drag-force on the pipe wall. Also, the estimated Froude numbers were indicative of the 12-18 m points as \ndeposit/corrosion prone areas.","PeriodicalId":377053,"journal":{"name":"The Open Petroleum Engineering Journal","volume":"41 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2017-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"3","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"The Open Petroleum Engineering Journal","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.2174/1874834101710010220","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 3
Abstract
Background:
The presence of sand particles and associated water in crude oil calls for serious concern when the flow conditions leading to flow
stratification in an upstream petroleum pipeline become significant. At such conditions, problems such as sand deposition and water
containment on the pipe wall may result in consequences such as sand-induced corrosion, mechanical failure, pipe fatigue, reduced
flow area, loss of production and pipe blockage which are still currently unresolved by conventional and current models.
Objective:
A modelling approach was adopted to control the conditions leading to sand-induced corrosion and other related problems caused by
flow stratification in the upstream petroleum sector since conventional methods adopted to screen sand, only contribute to the
problem. Also, to date, mechanisms and models exist for other corrosion types such as CO2, H2S, acid-induced corrosion, etc. but
none currently exists for sand-induced corrosion. However, the concept of force-competition or dimensionless numbers was adopted
using a modelling approach to resolve the problem.
Method:
This research work resolves the situation by means of a three-phase model which incorporates sand, crude oil and water phases in its
mass and momentum balance equations while taking into cognisance, the effect of eddies. The three-layer model established in this
work, has its origin in a two-phase sand-crude oil system and, based on current literature, a modelling approach that considers the
flow of sand, crude oil and water has never been adopted to tackle the problem of sand-induced corrosion caused by associated water
as a stimulant for corrosion.
Conclusion:
The established model gave an accuracy of 99% when results from the model were compared with sand and crude oil production data
obtained from the field. Based on the model’s reliability, flow mechanisms/dimensionless numbers were used to ascertain critical
flow conditions in order to be able to avoid situations leading to sand deposition, sand-induced corrosion and other related problems.
Based on the results obtained, the estimated Euler numbers revealed that the 18 m point of the pipe is at risk due to the impact of the
sand-deposit-drag-force on the pipe wall. Also, the estimated Froude numbers were indicative of the 12-18 m points as
deposit/corrosion prone areas.