Eventos Anais de eventos
COBEM 2023
27th International Congress of Mechanical Engineering
Experimental investigation of the effect of scale inhibitors on the pressure drop and on the deposition inside hydrocyclones
Submission Author:
Juliana Ferreira Gonçalves , RJ
Co-Authors:
Juliana Ferreira Gonçalves, Andressa Amorim Daás, Andrei Hünemeyer Dullius, Mariana Dominguez, Lucas Borges Menezes, Juliana Loureiro, Fabricio Silva
Presenter: Juliana Ferreira Gonçalves
doi://10.26678/ABCM.COBEM2023.COB2023-1096
Abstract
Scaling is one of the issues faced by the oil industry and it can be classified as organic or inorganic. Scaling can occur on valves, pipes, and production equipment, from downhole to the topside, due to the mixture of incompatible waters and unavoidable variation of parameters such as pressure, temperature and pH. Therefore, it is important to investigate new mitigation strategies, as the oil industry spends huge time and cost to remove scaling deposits mechanically or chemically, either in scheduled or emergency maintenance procedures. For these reasons, this study aims to evaluate the efficiency of four chemical inhibitors - with different active materials – with respect the mitigation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) scaling process in hydrocyclones. The water based solutions of sodium bicarbonate and calcium chloride were prepared in separate reservoirs. Progressive cavity pumps were used to mix the solutions at a one-inch diameter (OD) stainless steel pipe which fed an encapsulated hydrocyclone prototype. Parameters such as flow rate and pressure at three different points of the bench were monitored throughout the test time. All the tests were carried out at approximately 23 ºC. The experimental conditions, such as flow rate, pressure, and percentage of the flow split between the hydrocyclone overflow and underflow were the same as those used on the Petrobras platform. Liquid samples were collected at the end of the experiment to obtain information about pH, conductivity and temperature of the calcium carbonate solution, as well as the size and amount of solid CaCO3 particles. The deposited mass of calcium carbonate was characterized by drying and weighting the hydrocyclone and specific test sections distributed along the length of the test bench. To identify the calcium carbonate crystalline structure, these samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). With regard to the results, the minimum optimal concentrations for each chemical inhibitor tested were found and at these concentrations, no deposited mass was observed inside the hydrocyclone and test sections, when compared to tests without chemical additives (blank tests). All inhibitors tested were effective against the calcium carbonate deposition process, though different concentrations were required. The main contribution of this research is the evaluation of the minimum inhibitor concentration in real operational conditions of the platform separation system.
Keywords
scaling, Calcium carbonate, Hydrocyclone, inhibitors
