This article explores various aspects of flow assurance in subsea developments. Flow assurance is an understanding of multiphase flow fluid dynamics and analyses, an ability to identify flow-related problems using state-of-the-art prediction tools, and the knowledge to develop solutions that eliminate, mitigate or remediate flow-related issues encountered in subsea systems. Flow assurance is reliable, safe and cost-efficient management of hydrocarbons from reservoir to export without any flow-related issues over the life cycle of the oil field. Subsea developments continue to escalate in quantity and complexity as the exploration and production companies ramp up exploration of deep-water and ultra-deep-water reservoirs with complex formations in harsh environments with increased challenges. Some of the technologies under thermal solutions are thermal insulation, direct electric heating and electrically-heated pipe-in-pipe. Oil and gas companies generate revenue from the oil produced. If the oil flow stops, their revenue stops. The more it stops the more they lose cash. Hence it can be termed as cash flow assurance. With fluctuating oil prices and unpredictable production issues, engaging flow assurance at every stage starting with the early phase ensures uninterrupted transportation of reservoir fluid from pore to process facilities in a safe manner and insures cash flow.
Flow Assurance
Dr. Phaneendra Kondapi is a senior technical advisor at Granherne-KBR, Houston, Texas, USA. Before joining Granherne-KBR, Dr. Kondapi has worked with various engineering and consulting firms for over 18 years around the globe in various capacities as a manager, project mananger, project lead and simulation engineer. His technical interests include flow assurance, subsea processing, process simulation and optimization, operator training simulators and multiphase flow simulators. Dr. Kondapi is also a KBR adjunct professor of subsea engineering at University of Houston since 2011. He has supported the development of first and only subsea engineering program in the US. He teaches a flow assurance course using an innovative reverse circular teaching method developed by him. Dr. Kondapi is a member of Society of Petroleum Engineers, founding member of Upstream Engineering and Flow Assurance Forum of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and founding faculty advisor of Subsea Engineering Society. He is also an active member of SPE Flow Assurance Technical Section, SPE Global Training Committee and Offshore Technology Conference Program Committee. He has organized many technical sessions at various workshops and international conferences. He has over 30 technical articles and presentations at various international conferences. Dr. Kondapi received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Tennessee Technological University and B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemical engineering from Andhra University. He is a recipient of SPE Teaching Fellow Award from the Society of Petroleum Engineers International in 2013.
Kondapi, P. (March 1, 2015). "Flow Assurance." ASME. Mechanical Engineering. March 2015; 137(03): S13–S15. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2015-Mar-8
Download citation file:
