Quantitative Risk Assessment of the Effect of Sand on Multiphase Flow in Pipeline

Authors

  • Ugochukwu Duru Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
  • Princewill M. Ikpeka Federal University of Technology, Owerri
  • Chiziterem Ndukwe-Nwoke Federal University of Technology, Owerri
  • Akeem Oladunde Arinkoola Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso
  • Stanley I. Onwukwe Federal University of Technology, Owerri

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17794/rgn.2022.4.4

Keywords:

average particle diameter, critical sand concentration, sanding up, erosion, abnormal pressure gradient, Monte Carlo simulation

Abstract

The presence of sand particles flowing along with reservoir fluids in a pipeline increases the probability of pipeline failure. The risk of pipeline failure is either accentuated or abated by the flow conditions of the fluids in the pipeline. In this study, a quantitative risk analysis of the effect of sand on pipelines during multiphase flow, under the pipeline failure modes; sanding up, erosion, and encountering abnormal pressure gradient was conducted. Three piping components were considered: line pipe (nominal size 1.5 in [3.8 cm]), swing check valve (nominal size 12.007 in [ 30.5cm]) and 90 deg LR Elbow (nominal size 2.25 in [5.7cm]). Correlations that indicate the critical velocities and the critical sand concentrations above/below which these failures occur were employed and implemented in a Visual Basic program. The analysis was conducted at a temperature of 204 oC and pressure of 604 psi [4.2×106 Pa]. A probability distribution, simulating real-life scenario was developed using Monte Carlo simulation. This determines the probability of deriving critical sand concentration values that fall beyond the set statistical limits which indicates the probability of occurrence of the failure being investigated. For all three failures, the severity of occurrence (represented by CAPEX incurred in solving the failures) was multiplied with the probability of failure which gave rise to the risk indexes. Based on the histogram plot of average risk index and analysis, the study reveals that larger diameter components are prone to turbulence which lead to greater risk of erosion. The risk of abnormal pressure drop and sanding up were considerably lower than that for erosion (abrasion)..

Author Biographies

Ugochukwu Duru, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

Department of Petroleum Engineering

Princewill M. Ikpeka, Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Department of Petroleum Engineering

+

School of Computing Engineering and Digital Technologies

Teesside University

Middlesbrough

United Kingdom

TS1 3BX

Chiziterem Ndukwe-Nwoke, Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Department of Petroleum Engineering

Akeem Oladunde Arinkoola, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso

Chemical Engineering Department

Stanley I. Onwukwe, Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Department of Petroleum Engineering

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Published

2022-08-24

How to Cite

Duru, U., M. Ikpeka, P., Ndukwe-Nwoke, C., Oladunde Arinkoola, A., & I. Onwukwe, S. (2022). Quantitative Risk Assessment of the Effect of Sand on Multiphase Flow in Pipeline. Rudarsko-geološko-Naftni Zbornik, 37(4), 37–52. https://doi.org/10.17794/rgn.2022.4.4

Issue

Vol. 37 No. 4 (2022): No. 60

Section

Petroleum Engineering and Energetics

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