Piping Considerations for Pipeline with Sand Erosion

[Rubje]

I'm working with a client that is dealing with high erosion rates due to sand in the well.

I'm brainstorming some piping changes that can be made to decrease to erosion rates. Here they are:

-Avoid 90 elbows and rely on 45 elbows
-Size piping to have a flow velocity less than 10 m/s
-Avoid sudden contractions/expansions
-Avoid slug/churn flow

Any other ideas or recommendations?

 

[TugboatEng]

Have you considered removing the sand with a hydrocyclone?

 

[EdStainless]

I presume that you are in steel pipe?
How about 10 ft/s as a max V.
Sounds like they need new well screens.
The pumps must be in fairly bad shape from this.
An additional separator at the surface is a good idea.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[Snickster]

API 14E provides recommeded maximum velocities to prevent errosion with or without solid particles (but 10 m/s is way way way too high). However must maintain a minimum velocity to keep the particles from settling out - there may also we recommendations in 14E for minimum velocities with sand.

Here is a website with calculations based on 14E.

http://pipeng.com/index.php/ts/itdmotflow007b/

 

[shvet]

start with DNVGL-RP-O501, HSE RR115, API 14E, ISO 13703
and even a calculator

http://pipeng.com/index.php/ts/itdmotflow010a/

 

[LittleInch]

You can get using target tees or bull nose tees.

Avoid tees where the branch enters the flow as you'll drill a hole in the tee in weeks...

Assume this is a gas well?

And 10m/sec is too high....

But getting the sand out at the earliest possible opportunity is key or stopping it in the first place.

Sand tends to clog everything - separators, instrument lines, drains, pipelines and pig traps and eats everything - pipe, valves, seals etc.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[SJones]

https://store.ampp.org/erosion-management-in-the-oil-and-gas-industry

You can also Google the term “sand management”



Steve Jones
Corrosion Management Consultant

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

All answers are personal opinions only and are in no way connected with any employer.

 

[1503-44]

Redesign and changing existing systems limiting the use of fittings, or trying to slow down velocities in an already producing system usually are not well-received, nor the most practical solutions. You are apparently already exceeding the pipeline's capacity to transport sand. Such modifications typically require extended well shutins and ultimately slow production rates and lower field economics. Adding sand seperators at the well sites may be your best option, as you can keep or maybe even increase production rates. After all it is about maximising production rates, not lowering them and you have to get the sand out in one place or another anyway.

--Einstein gave the same test to students every year. When asked why he would do something like that, "Because the answers had changed."

 

[Rubje]

I read each comment in this post. Thank you everyone this was super helpful