Study on Effect of Insulation Design on Thermal-Hydraulic Analysis: An Important Aspect in Subsea Pipeline Designing

Authors

  • Kiran Dinkar Patil Professor and Head School of Petroleum, Polymer and Chemical Engineering,MIT World Peace University, Pune-411 038
  • Srikant Sadafule UHDE India Ltd., UHDE House, LBS Road, Vikhroli (West), Mumbai, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37591/jopet.v4i1.2084

Abstract

The most imperative and challenging operational hazards for oil and gas pipelines are the risks associated with the transportation of fluids. When water, oil and gas flow simultaneously inside the pipeline, there are quite high chances that, water and hydrocarbon fluids can form and deposit hydrate such as wax and asphaltene on the inner surfaces of the pipeline and gradually blocking it. In this paper we explore and compare the various types of insulation and to find the optimum thickness of insulation required to maintain the temperature of the fluid inside the pipeline, above the hydrate/wax formation temperature to ensure smooth flow.  Presence of high water cut, changes in pressure and temperature along the pipeline leads to internal corrosion. Also because of incompatible water mixing, scales may form and get deposited inside the pipeline and restrict the flow hence, causing operational problems to downstream processing facilities. The key challenge faced by engineers is how to design a pipeline to assure that multiphase fluids are be safely and economically transported from the reservoir all the way to the downstream processing plants and the end users. The complete knowledge of dynamic fluid properties and a proper thermal-hydraulic analysis of the system are required to develop strategies for controlling the solids such as hydrates, wax and asphaltenes, and sometimes scale and sand. The practice of identifying, quantifying, and mitigating of most of the flow risks associated with pipelines, specifically subsea systems, is called flow assurance. The knowledge of fluid properties and thermal-hydraulic analysis of the system is utilized is essential  to develop a concept or strategies for controlling the formation of solids such as hydrates, wax, asphaltenes, and scale from the system. Flow assurance refers to ensuring the flow of produced hydrocarbons from the reservoir to the processing facility or to the point of sale. In this work, an Excel spreadsheet calculation comparison has been done to see the effect of various insulation material with different thicknesses on the temperature profile of the fluid in deep water environment. The hydrate and wax formation temperatures is first known and critical radius of insulation is calculated to obtained the required thickness of insulation in order to mitigate cool down of the fluid.

 

Keywords: Flow assurance, Hydrates, Wax, Asphaltenes, Thermal insulation thickness

 

Author Biography

  • Kiran Dinkar Patil, Professor and Head School of Petroleum, Polymer and Chemical Engineering,MIT World Peace University, Pune-411 038

    Born on February 01, 1973 in a village in Kolhapur district, Professor Kiran Dinkarrao Patil obtained his B.E. (Chemical Engineering) degree securing First class with Distinction, University Rank Holder, (1994) from Shivaji University, Kolhapur and M.E. (Chemical Engineering) with First class with Distinction (2000) from Shivaji University, Kolhapur. He later acquired his Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Pune (2010) (Research center: CSIR, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune) Despite hailing from rural based family, Dr. Patil has risen rapidly in the academic circles through sheer perseverance and patience. Dr. Kiran Patil is an experienced, well-trained and well-rounded Chemical Engineer with recognized research expertise in reactive separations, process modeling and simulation and industry implementation exposure and with administrative and organizational skills.

     

    Professor Patil has worked as a teacher, researcher and academic administrator in a professional career of 24 years. He was Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, MAEER’s, Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune (1995-2000), Senior Lecturer (2000-2002), Reader (2002-2008) and Professor of Chemical Engineering, (2008 onwards), before being appointed as Head of the Department of Polymer Engineering,  MAEER’s, Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune in January 2015. Before this, he has also served in the administrative capacity as Academic Research Coordinator at Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune for research projects sponsored by BCUD, University of Pune from 2011-2015. He is working as Director-Examination, Polymer, Petroleum & Petrochemical Engineering, (Under Circular o.125/2011), University of Pune. (Since 2013). Currently he is working as Professor and Head, School of Chemical, Petroleum, Polymer Engineering at World’s First University for Life Transformation, Dr. Vishwanath Karad World Peace University, Pune (MIT-WPU, Pune). As a Professor and Head, Professor Patil has successfully developed several research programmes in the School of Chemical, Petroleum and Polymer Engineering, designed and implemented new courses and generated lot of funds through several funding agencies for the infrastructure development. He is active in the administration of the department, including serving as members on various Institute/University committees, and to the development of the laboratory and curriculum and frequently interacting with Industry for possibility of employment of students and consultancy assignments, and to interdisciplinary collaborations. He has visited many premium academic institutes, research and Industrial organizations for professional research and training and completed nine major research projects funded by AICTE, DST, BCUD, University of Pune and various industries.  He motivated the faculty members to participate in national level research programmes launched by various government funding agencies.  Dr. Patil has influenced younger minds and inculcated amongst them the zeal to undertake new challenges in research, teaching and academic administration.

     

    Dr. Kiran Patil writes quite frequently for various national and international academic journals and presents research work in national and international level conferences. He has published more than 40 research articles in peer-reviewed journals. He has written four technical books for Chemical Engineering students, covering the syllabus of major Universities in India and considered as textbooks in syllabus of some Universities for their UG courses and these books are more popular in SARC countries. He has worked as examiner for many Universities and resource person in many national and international level workshops and conferences. He has also worked as Expert Committee Member in selection of various academic posts in different Universities and autonomous institutes. He has received Ideal Teacher Award from, MIT Group of Institutions (2009), Best Professor in Petroleum Engineering (2013) and Best Professor in Polymer Engineering (2017) and Best Professor in Chemical Engineering (2018) from BSA and Dewang Mehta Business School, Mumbai. He has been invited by UPSC, New Delhi and MPSC, Mumbai to work as Advisor on Panel for selection of various scientific posts in various state and central government departments. Dr. Patil is also working as peer Team Member of NAAC, Bangalore.

     

    Dr. Patil has worked on several academic bodies and committees of many universities and autonomous institutes. Dr. Kiran Patil is working as Member, Faculty of Engineering (FOE) and Member, Board of Studies (BOS) in Chemical/Petroleum/Petrochemical Engineering, University of Pune, RGPV, Bhopal, SATI, Vidisha, MITS, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, Member, Research and Recognition Committee (RRC), Shivaji University, Kolhapur. He is actively involved in the University administration and has worked on several academic bodies. He has been working as a Member, Academic Council, Board of Examination, as well as Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Chairman, Board of Studies in School of Chemical, Petroleum, and Polymer Engineering at Dr. Vishwanath Karad World Peace University, Pune (MIT-WPU, Pune), Member, Research and Recognition Committee, and in several other capacities in MIT-WPU and different bodies of other Universities in India.

     

    Professor Patil has made varied and significant research contributions in the field of Chemical Engineering in general and Separation Science and Engineering, Reaction Engineering and Catalysis in particular. He is expertise in Modeling, Simulation of complex Chemical Engineering Processes. Dr. Kiran Pail’s significant academic and research contributions are truly multidisciplinary covering Chemical (including engineering/technology), Petroleum, Petrochemical engineering, mathematical, and environmental sciences. The common theme that binds his contributions is experimental investigations, design of experiments, modeling and extensive application of commercial software in Chemical engineering such as Aspen Plus®, UNISIM™, and MATLAB® etc. He has successfully guided more than 40 B.E./B.Tech students for their UG projects and 20 Masters Students for their dissertation. He is currently guiding the Ph.D. research of 03 Ph.D. students in the Chemical Engineering.

     

     

    He has published 40 research papers, edited 2 research volumes and written 04 technical books on Chemical Engineering, covering the syllabus of major Universities in India and considered as textbooks in syllabus of some Universities for their UG courses and these books are more popular in SARC countries. Dr. Kiran Patil is Senior Member, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), USA, Life Member, Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE), India, ISTE, New Delhi, India, Institution of Engineers, India, Indian Membrane Society, Baroda, India, Indian Plastic Institute, Mumbai, India.

     

    He has completed many consultancy assignments, sponsored by many Industrial organizations from India and abroad. He has worked as Consultant/ Expert for online Engineering Education portal, for Pune based company. Dr. Kiran Patil is recognized Ph.D. Guide in Chemical Engineering , University of Pune, He has delivered many invited talks to many academic institutions and has been visiting faculty member to many academic organizations Professor Patil  strongly believe that primary responsibility of teacher  is to motivate their student’s interest and ensure they are excited about the subject matter and  provide students with the skills, knowledge and experience necessary so that they can expand their personal horizons and have the ability to be successful in their chosen careers and lives. Prof Patil also believes that it is of prime importance to share knowledge and information with the local communities so that informed choices and decision can be made for social good.

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Published

2019-04-08

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2014)

Section

Articles