GUAP3 SCALE DISSOLVER AND SCALE SQUEEZE APPLICATION USING KINETIC HYDRATE INHIBITOR (KHI)

• Main Authors: Clark, Len. W., Anderson, Joanne, Barr, Neil, Kremer, Egbert
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitors; Flow Assurance cost savings; ICGH 2008; International Conference on Gas Hydrates 2008
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/1204

The use of Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitors (KHI) is one of the optimum methods employed to control gas hydrate formation issues and provide flow assurance in oil and gas production systems. The application of this technology has several advantages to operators, including significant cost savings and extended life of oil and gas systems. This paper will highlight a specific case where a Major operator in the North Sea (UK sector) significantly reduced the cost of well intervention operations by applying a KHI in a subsea gas lift line. Considerable cost savings were realized by reducing volume of chemical required and this enabled the application to be performed from the FPSO eliminating the need for a dedicated Diving Support Vessel (DSV). Furthermore, the application of KHI also reduced manual handling and chemical logistics usually associated with this particular treatment. In order to prevent mineral scale deposition occurring in downhole tubing and near well bore and in the formation; scale inhibitor squeeze applications are standard practice. For subsea wells the fluids can be pumped down in to the well via gas lift lines. However, upon completion of previous scale squeeze operations at this particular location, hydrate formation was observed when a mixture of MEG and water was used following interventions via the gas lift line. By applying 1% KHI with a mixture of MEG and Water, the well was brought back into production following scale squeeze operations without hydrate formation occurring.