Surge Protection By closing Pipeline outlet boundaries

[Sawsan311]

Dear all,

If a system is supplying highly incompressible liquid i.e. water to various destination through a pipeline network i.e. wells receiving water. In case of the injection pumps suddenly trip, a negative pressure cavity may develop in the pipeline downstream the pumps, do you see any requirement to simultaneously close the individual sinks receiving the water on the other side of the pipeline in order to contain the pressure inside the pipeline... or you tend to consider this action as a worse driver for additional surge occurrence in the line. Some engineers recommend containing pipeline pressure to facilitate the restart of the pumping system afterwards.

Appreciate your views.

Regards,

 

[georgeverghese]

Does seem safer if you trip the WI SSV also when the WI pump stops to prevent any hydrocarbon backflow from wells back into WI line. You could configure a timer delay to close these WI SSVs' say 10-15seconds after WI pump trip to avoid line surge. There should be a flow recycle at the WI pump to address the startup case when the WI SSVs' are not opened yet ? Once the pump has developed pressure, you can then open the SSV with minimal differential pressure?

 

[LittleInch]

I think it will make no difference to the surge impact if this is being caused by negative pressure downstream the pumps.

Most injection systems have non return valve(s) to prevent any back flow from the well (or they should) so that isn't the point and most will not close fast enough to mkae any difference.

Re start though could be impacted depending on your wells and what pressure they fall to if left open but no pump pressure. Some stay quite high, others pull a vacuum due to the hydrostatic head in the tubing being higher than reservoir pressure.

Starting high pressure systems can be tricky if ther eis too much inrush of fluid before the pressure starts to climb and push the pumps back onto their operating curve.

If it was me I would close the wells on pump trip and then at least you have a stable system where you can gradually reopen / restart flow in a controlled manner.

Each system is different so it's up to you to determine if this is a good thing or not.

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