Research progress on hydrate plugging in multiphase mixed rich-liquid transportation pipelines

Abstract

The plugging mechanism of multiphase mixed rich-liquid transportation in submarine pipeline is a prerequisite for maintaining the fluid flow in the pipeline and ensuring safe fluid flow. This paper introduced the common experimental devices used to study multiphase flow, and summarized the plugging progress and mechanism in the liquid-rich system. Besides, it divided the rich-liquid phase system into an oil-based system, a partially dispersed system, and a water-based system according to the different water cuts, and discussed the mechanism of hydrate plugging. Moreover, it summarized the mechanism and the use of anti-agglomerates in different systems. Furthermore, it proposed some suggestions for future research on hydrate plugging. First, in the oil-based system, the effect factors of hydrates are combined with the mechanical properties of hydrate deposit layer, and the hydrate plugging mechanism models at inclined and elbow pipes should be established. Second, the mechanism of oil-water emulsion breaking in partially dispersed system and the reason for the migration of the oil-water interface should be analyzed, and the property of the free water layer on the hydrate plugging process should be quantified. Third, a complete model of the effect of the synergy of liquid bridge force and van der Waals force in the water-based system on the hydrate particle coalescence frequency model is needed, and the coalescence frequency model should be summarized. Next, the dynamic analysis of a multiphase mixed rich-liquid transportation pipeline should be coupled with the process of hydrate coalescence, deposition, and blockage decomposition. Finally, the effects of anti-agglomerates on the morphological evolution of hydrate under different systems and pipeline plugging conditions in different media should be further explored.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

hydrate / rich-liquid phase / plugging mechanism / coalescence / deposition / anti-agglomerate

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