flow assurance engineer? 4

[bojie01]

i am a process engineer by qualification(Msc chem engrg) and training, i need advice on how to major as a Flow Assurance engineer, the problem is the training programs been offered(scandpower-olgas) are for a few days at best and i wonder if it is worth the cost.are there universities running degree courses on Flow Assurance?

 

[NMcC]

bojie01,
From my knowledge there are no degree courses in Flow Assurance. Although I will be the first to admit I am not the most knowledgeable/up to date with academic developments, the best evidence I have to back up the above statement are the CV's I get. So far, no degree courses in FA.

Nor do I expect to see them any time in the near future. Too specific and not something I would view as a terribly useful step forward.

I suggest you look on flow assurance as a vocational specialisation rather than an academic one.

There are plenty of training courses (as you mentioned) that will familiarise you with the tools used and provide you with some basic problem solving methods. However, these are expensive and will not provide you with the understanding of the principles involved and the experience you need in order to be able to apply the "engineering judgement" that is required to be a useful and competent engineer.

In my view, a good Flow Assurance engineer starts as a good Process/Chemical Engineer. This is a simplification as there are also good FA engineers that have mechanical/petroleum/civil engineering backgrounds.

Since Flow Assurance as a subject is concerned with:
"guaranteeing the flow of oil & gas from wellhead to point of sale"

It is primarily the Oil & Gas business in which we operate (although that too may be an over-simplification I won't elaborate on here).

With the emphasis on flow, the focus is on designing pipeline and associated production systems onshore and subsea. The primary interfaces are the source of the flow (generally reservoirs) and the delivery point (treatment plants and other reception facilities). Disciplines we interact with are generally reservoir engineers on the former and Process/Chemical engineers on the latter. Working alongside us are the pipeline mechanical/structural/controls engineers. And let’s not forget the ubiquitous Project managers/engineers and associated planners/economists/legal counsel etc ad nauseam without whom the world would surely stop rotating…

Why the “good FA engineer = Good Process/Chemical engineer” correlation?

Time for a bullet point list:

1) Theoretically: Understand the fluids involved and their behaviour (complex fluid characterisation, phase behaviour and thermodynamics). Practically: Understand how much gas, oil & water we have to flow. Generate suitable transport properties for point 2, below.
2) Theoretically: Understand the physics/mechanics of flow (Fluid Mechanics, unsurprisingly). Practically: Predict friction, head and acceleration losses for compressible, incompressible, single phase and multi-phase fluids with a view to sizing the pipelines (and pumps/compressors/multiphase boosters etc) in question. Predict the dynamic liquid & gas flows in order to size suitable reception facilities.
3) Theoretically: Understand the principles of heat loss (Thermo, again). Practically: Prevent and/or mitigate against the formation of solids (hydrates, waxes, asphaltenes, mineral scales etc) that will affect our ability to flow. Specify dry or wet insulation systems for the pipeline design, specify chemicals & injection requirements/facilities for same.
4) Theoretically: Materials science Practically: Predict and prevent/mitigate metal corrosion and erosion due to the presence of CO2, H2S, sand, water and other nasties. The effect of high and low pressures and temperatures on pipeline’s ability to remain vaguely tubular shaped (and not pear shaped). In “weasel” words: Establishing and maintaining the mechanical integrity of the pipeline.
5) Theoretically: Process Design Practically: The design and specification of valves, pumps, vessels (sometimes referred to as slugcatchers), instrumentation and other ancillaries in order to build, commission and operate said pipeline (and other associated systems) safely and profitably.

Naturally, an understanding of the requirements and functions of the interfacing engineering disciplines is also important in order to be able to provide a context for your daily activities.

In conclusion then, use your fundamental understanding of the above subjects obtained from your Chemical Engineering degree and apply them in onshore & subsea pipeline design. Join a consultancy or contracting organisation that is involved in Flow Assurance/ Subsea production system design, get some experience behind you and get them to put you on an OLGA course. And before you know it, voila, another Flow Assurance Engineer is born.

Nothing to it, I’ve got the lack of hair and the thousand yard stare to show it.

Best of luck to you in your future endeavours, wherever they may take you...

NMcC

http://www.linkedin.com/in/flowassurance

 

[bojie01]

Thanks NMcC,
i really appreciate your advice, the challenge is waiting/ hoping for my company to sponsor the training. i have already been trained in hysys, pipephase, flarenet( thats how i got my current job). i really crave to have a degree from a university in uk/usa, the problem is i already have a/an MSc in chemical engrg, and i want the next course to be a little less broad-(any suggestions please, i want to be an internationally recognized engineer, not just a big fish in a small pond.

 

[GregLocock]

At some point you have to start teaching yourself.



Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[singeroi]

yes.. but seminars are a good start too
simulation assurance vie