APPARATUS FOR MITIGATING SLUGGING IN FLOWLINE SYSTEMS

摘要

A system for mitigating slugging in the conveyance of hydrocarbons in a flowline (11) includes a first portion of flowline that extends substantially longitudinally along a declining surface. The first flowline portion carries multiphase hydrocarbons. A second portion of flowline (13) extends upward from adjacent the first portion of flowline, and is in fluid communication with the first portion of flowline. A slug-mitigating (21) region is between the first and second portions of flowline so slug-mitigating assembly receives the hydrocarbons from the first portion of flowline and conveys the hydrocarbons to the second portion of flowline. The slug-mitigating region has consecutively joined tubular segments (23) that are each arcuate along a predetermined arcuate angle (alpha), with substantially uniform cross-sections. The first portion of flowline can be a subsea flowline extending along a sea floor, and the second portion of flowline can be a riser.