OVERVIEW
Infrastructure
PEOPLE
OVERVIEW
Assuring hydrocarbon flow with no disruption during field development is the main focus of flow assurance personnel. Any disruption occurs during oil and gas production is considered costly and time-consuming, this is added to the HSE involved aspects. Therefore, a multidiscipline and systematic approach should be followed to identify flow stoppage risks and guarantee an undisturbed flow of oil and gas from the reservoir to the production tubing, then the flow lines reaching the surface facilities, and ultimately to refineries. Several factors might lead to flow disruption including low temperature of deep water, contaminants in the hydrocarbon, and reservoir compartmentalization. Different topics are covered within this area including flow assurance threats (reservoir souring, contaminants, hydrates, sand, emulsion, wax, asphaltenes, scale, and corrosion), flow assurance diagnostics, effective remedial, preventive measures, optimize production issues, and economically viable solutions. This is added to the most recent technologies of field digitalization, big data analysis, and Internet of Things (IoT).
Infrastructure
ASPHALTENE COLLOIDAL CHARGE AND ASSOCIATED RESIN INFLUENCE ON PRECIPITATION AND DEPOSITION DURING CRUDE OIL PRODUCTION FROM PETROLEUM RESERVOIR (COMPLETED 2015) (DR. HADI BELHAJ)
Asphaltene colloids stability in crude oil depends on molecular interactions between asphaltene, resin, and other components in addition to asphaltene complex molecules electrical charges. Any disturbance of this stability might trigger flocculation and thus, deposition of asphaltene causing serious flow problems within the reservoir, or through production strings. In this project, the electrical characteristics of asphaltene which involve asphaltene’s electrical charge and its importance to stability and the behavior of asphaltene upon the application of an electric field are investigated in static and dynamic modes. The role of resin coating asphaltene colloids on flow stability was also examined.
PRODUCTION CHEMISTRY (FLOW ASSURANCE) PROJECT (COMPLETED 2012) (DR. BISWESWAR GHOSH)
The objective of this project was to develop cutting edge technologies to mitigate asphaltene and inorganic scale deposition problems in ADNOC’s onshore and offshore wells. Under this project, several sub-projects were completed. Some of the notable ones are (1) Establishing a Production Chemistry research laboratory, (2) Mitigating Asphaltene Deposition in Wellbore through changing well design parameters, (3) Optimization of scale inhibitor squeeze lifetime through reservoir treatment, (4) Development of high potential polymeric scale inhibitors, and (5) Modeling asphaltene deposition at wellbore condition. The research outcomes have been communicated to ADNOC for field implementation. Major laboratory equipment bought from the project fund are presented.
PEOPLE
- Dr. Hadi Belhaj
- Dr. Bisweswar Ghosh
