Title : Gas producing mixed flow mode
Abstract:
This abstract prsents a technical challenge that was observed and mitigated in gas producing system. Gas production from the field is transported to the downstream processing facility through two parallel transmission lines receiving gas from different upstream sources. Transmission Line-1 carries reservoir gas under natural free-flow conditions, while Transmission Line-2 transports compressed gas from the gas compression plant. A potential to produce more gas was observed in the reservoir through the free-flow stream; however, the operating capacity of Transmission Line-1 had already reached its maximum limit. This constraint generated excessive backpressure on the upstream gas producing facilities, thereby restricting further production increases and reducing overall field deliverability.
The two transmission lines are connected to each other via a jumpover which is normally in closed position during operation. To optimize network utilization and debottleneck the constrained free-flow, a new operating philosophy was proposed to open the jumper line to allow mixing of the free-flow gas stream with the compressed gas stream. The main objective of this proposal was to reduce upstream backpressure on Transmission Line-1, redistribute flow through the available network capacity, and unlock additional production potential.
To verify the technical feasibility of the proposed arrangement, a detailed flow assurance and hydraulic simulation study was conducted. The evaluation included pressure profile analysis, flow redistribution behavior, operating stability, and system capacity under the modified routing scenario. Simulation results confirmed that the mixed flow operation could be implemented safely without adverse hydraulic or operational impacts. In addition, the study demonstrated that total gas production could be increased by more than 50% compared with the original operating mode.
Based on the positive findings, the recommended operating changes were implemented in the field. Post-implementation monitoring indicated stable operation with no abnormal conditions observed. The expected production gain was successfully realized, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed mixed flow and debottlenecking strategy.
