Oil Transportation in Pipelines with the Existence of Ice

Abstract

When the ambient temperature is below freezing point, ice may form in the oil transportation pipelines, which can cause flow assurance issues, such as restricting flow path or even plugging the pipeline. Ice plugging was reported to delay the restart of the Poplar pipeline system gathering crude oil from Montana and North Dakota. [1] Ice may also pose threats to the Trans-Alyeska Pipeline System (TAPS). The declining throughput makes the oil get colder much faster. If oil temperature falls below the freezing point, ice forms and leads to flow assurance issues, such as coating critical valves, accumulating in the pipeline, and restricting flow. [2] This paper investigates the fundamentals of ice formation in the pipeline and its effect on the transportation system. A 2-inch diameter carbon steel flow loop was instrumented to measure pressure, temperature, and differential pressure. The experimental results show that ice formation can restrict flow at the low sport in front of the flow meter, the inserted thermocouples, and the perforated plate. Annular ice deposition was found at the pipe wall. The morphology of the deposition is rime ice, indicating the deposition is due to small ice crystals sticking to the pipe surface. It was found that the formation of annular deposition requires a negative temperature gradient. The effect of water cuts and fluid properties on plugging tendency is discussed. The mechanisms for ice deposition along the pipe and plugging at the pipe components are proposed.