西南石油大学学报(自然科学版)

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Dynamic Simulation of the Open Process for Natural Gas Wells to#br# Inhibit Hydrate Freeze-plugging

CEN Kang1*, JIANG Xin1, YANG Jing2, ZHU Yuanxing1   

  1. 1. School of Civil Engineering and Architecture,Southwest Petroleum University,Chengdu,Sichuan 610500,China
    2. Southwest Branch of China Petroleum Engineering Co. Ltd.,Chengdu,Sichuan 610000,China
  • Online:2016-02-01 Published:2016-02-01

Abstract:

The hydrate freeze-plugging phenomenon is easy to occur in pipelines during the open period of natural gas wells
especially for wells with high pressure. The dynamic characteristics and optimal hydrate control schemes during well opening
period,however,have not been studied systematically. So the specific dynamic models have been established to analyze
the dynamic characteristics during well opening period by Dynsim package. The influences of the fluid flowrate,installation
modes of pipelines,thickness of thermal insulation layer as well as throttling regulation schemes on throttling temperature and
pressure during well opening period have been discussed by using the dynamic models. The dynamic characteristics of heat
transfer between fluid in pipelines and ambient environment during well opening period have also been analyzed. In addition,
the optimal control schemes for hydrate inhibition during well opening period and optimization design for pipelines have also
been put forward in the paper. The results demonstrate that the fluid flowrate during well opening period has dramatical influence
on the risk of hydrate formation in pipelines. And no matter how to regulate the fluid flowrate during well opening period,
hydrate formation risk in pipelines exists all the time,especially when the flowrate remains small. In order to avoid hydrate
formation in pipelines,the fluid flowrate during well opening period should be increased as large as possible by regulating
different throttle valves simultaneously or regulating the secondary and tertiary throttle valves mainly. Meanwhile,necessary
measures like alcohol injection or heating should be done to mitigate the risk of hydrate formation. Furthermore,it is suggested
that the pipelines between wellhead and heating furnace should be buried underground without thermal insulation layer,whereas
other overhead pipelines should be covered by thermal insulation layer.

Key words: natural gas well, well opening, dynamic simulation, hydrate, optimization design

CLC Number: