Transients in network pipelines - problems related to tie-ins between already existing flowlines and new ones

摘要

A possible way of developing a marginal oil or gas/condensate field is to utilise already existing pipeline infrastructure to transport unprocessed or partly processed well stream to e.g. shore. However, if one is to tie a new pipeline in to an already existing one and transport well stream from both the original field and also from the new field in this same pipeline one must be sure that the feed from the new field does not affect the production from the original field in a negative way. It is therefore of great importance to carry out thorough evaluations before such a development alternative is chosen. In connection with this it is of irreplaceable value to perform multiphase flow simulations to investigate how the tie-in of another fiowline affects the production in the original pipeline.rnIn the present work multiphase flow simulations have been performed for a pipeline network consisting a tie-in from Kvitebjorn to a gas pipeline from Troll A to Kollsnes. The reader should be aware that this is not a real development solution for Kvitebjorn. The dynamic response in the Troll pipeline during various Kvitebjorn operational procedures such as rate changes and production shut-down is examined.