Prediction of Mineral Scaling in a MEG Loop System of a Gas Production Offshore

Abstract

Abstract An offshore gas field located in the Far East has two reservoirs: reservoir A and reservoir B. Production fluids consist of gas and hydrocarbon condensate with some produced water from the two reservoirs. The producing fields are in water depths varying between 250 and 275m with ambient seawater temperatures and operating conditions that result in only occasional concerns about potential hydrate formation in the production systems. Lean Monoethylene Gylcol (MEG) is injected near the wellheads for hydrate inhibition. This paper presents the risk of mineral scaling at critical points throughout the process with the three production scenarios: reservoir A alone, reservoir A and reservoir B, and finally reservoir B alone. Special attention has been put on the effect of mixing produced waters from reservoir A and reservoir B topside. Furthermore there are considerable uncertainties with respect to the amount of organic acids that may be produced; therefore some evaluations have been performed with and without organic acids.