Advanced flow assurance

Course dates

28 May-1 June 2012. Register by early May 2012.

Description

The course focuses on the practical aspects of Flow Assurance and Gas Hydrates, covering: hydrate formation conditions, inhibitor design strategies, the application of thermodynamic and low dosage hydrate inhibitors, and hydrate blockage removal techniques. Particular emphasis is placed on predicting gas hydrate formation conditions for different production scenarios and the design of appropriate hydrate prevention strategies. The importance of laboratory techniques and protocols for evaluation of the performance of thermodynamic and low dosage hydrate inhibitors (LDHIs) will be discussed. Some practical methods for estimating the hydrate stability zone and the effect of salts and organic inhibitors will be detailed. The course will conclude with several case studies. Participants will visit the hydrate laboratory (only in Edinburgh). The application of computer models and empirical techniques in tutorial sessions will provide further hands on experience.

Content

• Introduction to gas hydrates
• Various hydrate structures
• Importance of gas hydrates
• Hydrate formation conditions
• Gas hydrates and oil and Petroleum Industries
• Gas hydrates in drilling operations
• Gas hydrates in oil and gas production and transportation
• Scenarios that could lead to gas hydrate formation
• Experimental techniques in determining the hydrate stability zone
• Sample preparation
• Predictive techniques
• Effect of salts and alcohols on the hydrate stability zone
• Tutorials
• Visit to the Hydrate and Flow Assurance Laboratories
• Inhibitor distribution and salting-out
• Hydrate prevention strategies
• Hydrates in low water content gases
• Thermodynamic and low dosage hydrate inhibitors (Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitors and Anti-Agglomerants)
• Inhibitor design
• Experimental techniques for evaluating LDHIs
• Natural inhibiting systems
• Gas hydrates in shut-ins and start-ups
• The promise of Cold Flow
• Effect of hydrate inhibitors on other inhibitors
• Gas hydrate plug removal
• Case studies
• Future directions in gas hydrates and flow assurance

Target audience

Petroleum, production, process and drilling engineers.

Course requirement

Previous basic knowledge of hydrates is desirable. Operational experience in drilling, production or process engineering would be useful.

Duration

5 days

Cost

£825 (discount rate offered in conjunction with the ETP Energy Skills Training)

Instructor

Professor Bahman Tohidi
You can email Prof. Tohidi if you have any questions about the course content.