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PSIG 03B1

Full-scale multiphase flow tests in the Troll pipelines


Ronny Albrechtsen, Statoil, Natural Gas, Krst, Norway
Elling Sletfjerding, Statoil, Research & Technology, Trondheim, Norway

Copyright 2003, Pipeline Simulation Interest Group


This paper was prepared for presentation at the PSIG Annual Meeting held in Bern,
Switzerland, 15 October 17 October 2003.
This paper was selected for presentation by the PSIG Board of Directors following review of
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does not necessarily reflect any position of the Pipeline Simulation Interest Group, its officers,
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ABSTRACT
An extensive full-scale measurement campaign has recently
been carried out in one of the two 36" gas-condensate
pipelines from Troll A wellhead platform in the North Sea to
Kollsnes gas process plant. The main objectives of the fullscale tests were to collect data and to study the dynamics of
three-phase gas-condensate-water flow in pipelines. Seven
tests covering a large span of operating conditions were run
measuring pressure drop and liquid accumulation in the
pipeline. In addition, data on pig dynamics were collected for
five of the tests. The measurement results will be used to
revise operating procedures for Statoils gas-condensate
transport systems and for verification and improvements of
dynamic multiphase simulation codes. This paper focuses on
the design and performance of the full-scale tests.

Introduction
Long distance multiphase transport has become common and
proven technology in Norwegian gas-condensate field
developments. Recent and future developments like Huldra,
Kvitebjrn, Sigyn, Mikkel and Snhvit all make use of gascondensate transport as an essential technology element.
Indeed, this has become possible due to extensive efforts to
develop multiphase flow models for thermo-hydraulic
calculations, such as the OLGA2000/PeTra simulations
programs.
The multiphase models are particularly important in order to
select the optimum pipe diameter, design temperature and
defining the operational envelope with respect to minimum

and maximum flow rates. The minimum flow rate before


liquid starts to accumulate considerably is an important
feature, which usually limits the operational envelope for a
gas-condensate pipeline. Liquid accumulation in a pipeline
may cause slugging problems, and the accumulated liquid may
potentially overfill the slug catcher at the receiving facility
when increasing the gas flow rate. Increasing pipeline pressure
loss may also be a consequence of liquid accumulation. Thus,
liquid accumulation is an unwanted situation that is usually
solved by draining the pipeline using scraper pigs, or simply
by operating the pipeline at sufficient high flow rates to avoid
the problem. Figure 1 shows typical trends of liquid
accumulation and pressure loss for gas-condensate pipelines.
Furthermore, the operational limits of new subsea gascondensate pipelines are being stretched with respect to longer
transport distances and higher liquid content. An example is
the Snhvit pipeline, which is planned to come into production
in 2006. The wellstream from Snhvit will be transported
directly in a multiphase pipeline to shore over a distance of
approximately 145 km [90 miles] in harsh environments in the
Barents Sea. Snhvit and similar field developments depend
on reliable multiphase models for thermo-hydraulic design
calculations.
The uncertainties of the multiphase flow models are
incorporated in the design and field development concepts.
This may, however, result in narrow operational envelopes,
oversized pipelines and slug catchers, or other unsuccessfull
design of the pipeline and receiving facilities. It is therefore
important to improve the accuracy of multiphase models to
reduce uncertainty in pipeline design and to optimise the
operation of pipelines and receiving facilities. Such
improvements can be achieved by exploiting operational
experience from existing fields combined with systematic fullscale testing of multiphase pipelines. This means that field test
measurements can be a basis for potentially increased flow
capacity, larger operational envelope and less operational
problems (e.g. slugging) of existing and new pipelines.
Based on the above considerations it was deceided to design
and carry out a comprehensive full-scale measurement
campaign in a 36" and 67 km [41.6 miles] long gas-condensate
pipeline from the offshore Troll field to shore at Kollsnes.

RONNY ALBRECHTSEN, ELLING SLETFJERDING

THE TROLL FIELD


The Troll field is located west of Bergen in the North Sea and
contains 60 per cent of Norways proven gas reserves. The
production started in June 1996 and the maximum production
capacity is about 100 MSm3/d [3532 MSCF/d], or 30
GSm3/year [1060 GSCF/year].
The Troll field comprises the two main structures Troll East
(Phase I) and Troll West (Phase II). The gas province in the
East structure is being produced by the Troll A concrete
platform, which exports the gas through two wet gas pipelines
to the onshore gas treatment plant at Kollsnes near Bergen, see
schematic overview in Figure 2. The thin oil layers in the Troll
West structure are produced by the Troll B & C platforms,
where the separated oil is is transported in two pipelines to
the Mongstad refinery. The part of the associated gas from the
West structure which is not re-injected is transported in two
16" pipelines to Troll A, as indicated in Figure 2. Statoil
operates Troll A, Kollsnes process plant and the wet gas
pipelines, while Norsk Hydro operates Troll B & C.
Troll A is a wellhead platform producing from 38 gas wells at
depths of approximately 1400 m [4590 ft]. Gas conditioning
and processing are limited on the platform. The producing
wells are routed into four parallel inlet separators, where the
free water is removed. The gas and condensate phases are
remixed and co-mingled with rich gas from Troll B & C
before entering two parallel transport pipelines (P10 & P11) to
shore. Approximately 90 % lean MEG (Mono Ethylen Glycol)
is injected into P10 and P11 at Troll A for hydrate inhibition
and corrosion prevention. Figure 2 gives a schematic overview
of the transport system from Troll to Kollsnes.
The two 36" pipelines (P10 & P11) transfer multiphase flow
of gas, condensate and glycol/water over a distance of 67 km
[41.6 miles], where each line is design for 50 MSm3/d [1766
MSCF/d]. Figure 3 shows the elevation profile of the two
pipelines, where maximum water depth is about 350 m [1150
ft]. The seabed is almost flat except the last part which is very
hilly and the pipelines have therefore been laid in a tunnel the
last hill towards the outlet, as indicated in Figure 3. The
pipelines are not insulated, and due to cooling by seawater and
pressure loss in the pipeline, free water and condensate drop
out from the gas phase, forming a a three-phase mixture of
gas, condensate and aqueous glycol.
At the tunnel outlet at Kollsnes, the wet gas pipelines are
directed into two dual slope bottle type slug catchers where
the initial separation takes place. The maximum capacity of
the slug catchers is 2500 m3 [88300 ft3]. The total liquid gas
ratio at the pipeline outlet is approximately 23 m3 liquid per
million Sm3, or 4.1 bbl/MSCF.
The gas from the slug catchers is then further processed in a
dew point control system before being exported to UK and the
continental Europe via the gas network system in the North

PSIG 03B1

Sea. The stabilized condensate is exported to Mongstad


refinery in a separate pipeline. The Kollsnes process plant is
currently being expanded with an NGL process system in
order to extract the liquid components from new gas field
developments (Kvitebjrn and Visund) by 01.10.2004.

Design and implementation of


the field tests
The main ambition with the measurement program was to
measure liquid accumulation in the pipeline at a wide range of
flow rates. Basically, the tests were conducted by running the
pipeline at predefined and constant inlet flow rates until
stabilized conditions in the pipeline were reached, whereafter
a cleaning pig was sent in order to drain the accumulated
liquid into the slug catchers. The liquid slug was then
measured by the liquid level measurement system on the slug
catchers. In addition, the velocity and volume of the liquid
slug in the pipeline P10 was measured by gamma
densitometers located temporarily on the outlet pipeline.
From earlier measurements in the P10 pipeline it was expected
that liquid accumulation would increase rapidly for flow rates
below 70 % of design rate. Thus the test programme was
designed to cover the flow rate range from 90-50 % of design
rate, with special focus on the range from 70-50 % (cf. test
program in Table 1). All tests were planned to run with an
outlet pressure of approximately 90 bar [1305 psi].
It was decided that liquid accumulation should be measured by
pigging the pipeline in order to get a more accurate measure of
accumulated liquid than may be achieved by dynamic pigging
(i.e. flow rate increase). All tests at flow rates of 80 % of
design rate and lower were planned with pigging. The test at
90 % of design rate was planned to run without pigging as a
pressure drop test. Sending a pig at the end of each test had
two purposes; liquid drainage and measuring pig dynamics
and temperature profile along the pipeline route.
Normally, in gas-condensate pipelines, the condensate drops
out and accumulates first, and then the water will accumulate
over time before a full stabilization of the pipelines is reached.
It was apparent that it would not be possible to run the
pipeline to fully stabilized conditions at low flow rates due to
the capacity of the slug catchers. Therefore, all tests were
planned to run for a limited time of about 48 hours before
pigging. It was expected that all tests would reach stabilized
conditions within the 48 hours, except for test 7 which was
planned as a transient test.
The test program (Table 1) was planned and accomplished
during the summer season 2002 without interfering the gas
export from Kollsnes. The gas export is governed by the
demand in continental Europe, and in the winter season the
gas demand is normally too high to match the planned test
flow rates. Thus, the test period was chosen to be in the

PSIG 03B1

Full-scale multiphase flow tests in the Troll pipelines

summer season when the gas export is more likely to fit the
test rates. Moreover, the flexibility of the two pipelines P10
and P11 offers a unique possibility of keeping constant flow
rate in one pipeline (P10), and let the other pipeline (P11) take
care of the variations in the gas export. However, it was not
possible to maintain constant flow rate in P10 when large
changes in the export rate was required within the test period.
In such cases the tests had to be terminated and restarted when
the gas export was more favourable.

INSTRUMENTATION AND DATA


ACQUISITION
Measurement and data acquisiton
Existing process instrumentation on Troll A, B & C platforms,
as well as on Kollsnes process plant, was used as a basis for
the field test measurements. However, additional instruments
were needed for measurements of flow details. For this
purpose, three gamma densitometers were installed
temporarily during the tests on the outlet of pipeline P10.
A built-in sampling and acquisition program in the PCDA
system was configured to acquire and store predefined
instruments when started from the control room. The sampling
frequency of each instrument was predefined to be 1/30 Hz
(twice a minute) or 4 Hz. Gamma densitometers and outlet
pressure transmitters were sampled at 4 Hz.
A large number of different measurement signals were
acquired during each tests. The most important instruments
and measurement systems are briefly described in the next
sub-sections. Vital instruments were checked and/or calibrated
prior to the test program in order to obtain high quality and
reliable measurement data with low uncertainty.

the orifice meters at Troll A. The gas flow rates from Troll B
& C are measured at fiscal standards (uncertainty less than 1
% in mass flow). This included measurements of pressure,
temperature and compositional analysis in addition to flow
rate (orifice meters) on Troll B & C platforms. The flow rate
from Troll A into P10 and P11 together with the fiscal
measurements of Troll B and C gas flow rates were used to
determine the total gas rates into each of the two pipelines.
The two orifice meters used for condensate injection were
defect, and a clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter was therefore
installed temporarily on the condensate injection line. This
made it possible to measure the P10 inlet condensate flow rate
during the tests.
At the pipeline outlet at Kollsnes, the following flow rates
were measured:

MEG/water drainage rate from the slug catchers

Condensate drainage rate from the slug catchers

Fiscal measurements of gas and condensate export

Flare gas

The fiscal measurements of Kollsnes export are subject to


regular calibration and verification according to governmental
requirements. During stable periods, the total gas flow rate
into the pipelines was found to be very close to the fiscal
measurements at Kollsnes. The measurement of the inlet gas
flow rate to P10 and P11 were therefore regarded to be
accurate within 1 - 2 per cent.
The drainage rates from the slug catchers were measuered by
high quality ultrasonic meters. These measurements were
important to determine the outflow from the slug catchers
during the tests.

Flow rate measurements


Flow rate measurements were mainly based on the existing
metering systems on the platforms and at Kollsnes. On the
pipeline inlet the following flow rates were measured:

Gas flow rate from Troll A in P10 and in P11

Gas flow rate from Troll B in either P10 or P11

Gas flow rate from Troll C in either P10 or P11

MEG injection flow rate in P10 and P11

Condensate flow rate in P10 (temporary during the tests)

The gas flow rates from Troll A were measured using orifice
meters with pressure and temperature compensation, but with
a constant composition. Qualified personnel calibrated the
pressure and temperature transmitters used in connection with

Pressure and temperature transmitters


The pressure and temperature measurements are based on
existing transmitters offshore (Troll A, B & C) and onshore
(Kollsnes). Vital transmitters for the tests, i.e. inlet and outlet
pressure and temperature gauges, were calibrated by qualified
personnel. The accuracy of these instruments was documented
to be within 0.5 bar [ 7.3 psi] and 0.5 C [ 0.9 F] for
pressure and temperature transmitters, respectively.
Liquid level measurements in slug catchers
The original liquid level measurement system installed on the
slug catchers is based on differential pressure (DP) cells,
which measure the pressure head of a fluid column and
convert it to a fluid level when the fluid density is known. This
system has not been reliable, and large fluctuations have been
experienced. This is mainly because the measurement system

RONNY ALBRECHTSEN, ELLING SLETFJERDING

PSIG 03B1

is based on ideal phase separation. Blocking of the pressure


taps may also give erroneous results.

DATA ANALYSIS

Four gamma densitometers (137Cs) have been installed


permanently on the two slug catchers in order to measure the
condensate and aqueous glycol levels. These instruments are
more reliable and accurate than DP since the density is
directly measured by attenuation of gamma ray beams
irrespective of fluid phase mixing and non-ideal separation.
Unfortunately, the gamma densitometers only cover part of the
full level range in the slug catchers. It was therefore deceided
to install three temporary gamma densitometers on the P10
pipeline for accurate liquid plug measurements (see next subsection).

Measured and acquired data from each test were sorted and
stored systematically for further processing and analysis. The
averages of pressure, temperature and flow rate measurements
were computed from selected stable periods. Other
parameters, such as liquid slug velocity, pig velocity and
liquid volume arriving at Kollsnes during pigging, needed
special evaluation and analysis methods. These methods are
described in the next sub-sections.

Liquid slug measurements using -densitometers


Two single beam gamma densitometers (137Cs) were installed
approximately 100 m [328 ft] apart from each other on a
horizontal straight section upstream the slug catchers. These
two instruments were used for measurement of velocity and
volume of liquid slugs, as well as indicating unsteady liquid
flow, produced when pigging the pipeline (see Data analysis).
A third gamma densitometer was installed on a 30" pipe
section close to, but upstream the slug catchers at Kollsens.
This instrument was specially designed for accurate density
measurement and to estimate condensate and glycol fractions.
Pig measurements using data logger
A scraper pig was launched and sent through the P10 pipeline
at the end of each liquid accumulation test (test 2 - 7) in order
to shove the accumulated liquid in front of the pig and into the
slug catchers. A data logger installed in the pig was used to
measure temperature, pressure, differential pressure and
acceleration along three axes. In addition, two odometer
wheels were installed to record the travelled distance and
thereby the pig velocity. The sampling frequency used for the
tests was 5 Hz.
Gas chromatography (GC) analysis
In order to characterize the fluid properties the gas
composition is needed. Gas sampling and compositional
analysis is performed and reported regularly at fiscal standards
once a week on Troll B & C platforms. There is no regular
sampling and analysis of the Troll A well stream. The
available compositions of Troll A well stream was therefore
based on statistical average of previous well samples. Fiscal
online sampling and GC analysis is performed continuously
on the export gas (sales gas) from Kollsnes.
The transported gas through the pipeline is a mixture of gas
from Troll A, B and C, and the average based on flow rate
from each field was used to characterize the fluid properties
for each test. Troll A gas dominates with 75-100 %
contribution into the pipelines P10 & P11, while Troll B
and/or Troll C contribute with the rest.

Particular attention was given to estimate the liquid volumes


arriving at Kollsnes, and three independent methods were
therefore employed to measure the liquid volumes. The three
methods predict the volume of condensate and aqueous glycol
(MEG/water) based on measuring:

Liquid levels in slug catchers using differential pressure


(DP) transmitters.

Liquid levels in slug catchers using gamma densitometers.

Liquid plug velocity and density


densitometers on test pipeline P10.

using

gamma

It is important to note that the three methods only predict the


volume of the liquid plug ahead of the pig. Any thin liquid
film flowing in the pipe is not included in the volume
measurements, although some of the density readings indicate
a wavy film ahead of the liquid plug. Moreover, any liquid
leakage across the pig is neither included in the measurements.
Liquid levels and slug catcher volumes
The measured liquid levels in the two slug catchers are
converted to corresponding volumes by using calibrated level
volume curves. The volumes of condensate and aqueous
glycol entering the slug catchers were determined by
measuring the volume difference before and after arrival of the
liquid slug. The measured volumes were corrected for the
drained condensate and aqueous glycol volumes during this
period.
Figure 4 shows an example from test 4, where the condensate
level increases sharply when the liquid plug enters the slug
catcher at approximately 3 hr. and 40 min after launching the
pig. The very high condensate levels measured by the DP
transmitters are unphysical and are caused by the chaotic and
turbulent process in the slug catchers with no sharp fluid
interface between gas and condensate. The gamma
densitometers give more realistic measurements during this
phase, since they measures the true density of the mixture.
However, as the separation process takes place in the slug
catchers and the fluid phases separates, the differential
pressure transmitters are approaching the correct condensate
level. The duration of the separation process depends on the
amount of liquid entering the slug catchers, but it takes

PSIG 03B1

Full-scale multiphase flow tests in the Troll pipelines

normally 30 40 minutes. The pigged condensate volume is


determined from the difference of the volume when the fluid
phases have stabilized and the volume before pig arrival.
The pigged aqueous glycol volume is determined from the
volume difference between the same time periods as was used
for prediction of the condensate volume, see Figure 4. The
aqueous glycol level increases smoothly towards a stable level
and no sharp volume increase is observed. This is probably
because a distinct interface is maintained between the aqueous
glycol and condensate phases, since the aqueous phase is
slowly sinking through the condensate phase and there is low
turbulence in the lower part of the slug catchers.
Liquid plug measurements
The two densitometers located approximately 100 m [328 ft]
apart at the pipeline outlet at Kollsnes were used to calculate
pig velocity, liquid plug front velocity and the liquid plug
volume. Figure 5 shows a schematic of the measurement
setup. Density discontinuities such as the liquid plug front and
the pig are detected by the densitometers with a time
difference, which is correlated to give slug front and pig
velocities. Combining the measured liquid slug duration with
the velocity distribution of the pig then yields the liquid plug
volume. Furthermore, a third gamma densitometer with a
stronger radiation source was used for accurate density
measurements of the multiphase mixture on a 30" pipe section
downstream the other two densitometers This density
measurement was used to determine the fraction of aqueous
glycol and condensate in the liquid plug.
Typical time traces from the densitometers are shown in
Figure 6. The arrival of the liquid plug is seen as the sharp
increase in measured density in the readings from the three
densitometers. The pig arrival is seen in Figure 6 as a sharp
reduction in density as the pig passes the densitometers and
the measured density is that of the gas behind the pig. Note
that all three densitometers are only calibrated at gas filled
conditions in the pipe, and that the two first densitometers are
not capable of measuring the correct density in the liquid plug
due to the large pipe diameter, i.e. they are only used for slug
detection. The third densitometer on the smaller 30" pipe is
used for accurate density measurements.
The liquid plug front velocity and the pig velocity are
calculated based on the time lag, t, of the front and pig
arrival between the two gamma densitometers placed
approximately 100 m [328 ft] apart. The liquid plug duration
is found directly as the time lag between the arrival of the
liquid plug front and the pig. Note that the liquid plug duration
is not identical for the three densitometers due to plug
acceleration.

Test results
All test were run successfully according to the plan (Table 1),
except for Test 2 where the data logger in the pig was not
available. However, the pig was run without the data logger in
Test 2 to measure the liquid accumulation as planned.
Trend measurements
Stable periods were selected for each test in order to define a
main test period lasting approximately 48 hours and a second
test period being at the very end of the test period. The second
test period is used to determine the pressure loss in the
pipeline, while the general trends are used for further analysis.
The main trends from Test 3 are presented here in Figure 7
through Figure 11 as examples from one of the seven tests.
The predefined test rate was 70 % of design rate for
approximately 48 hours before pigging, see Figure 7. Gas
from Troll A and Troll B was produced into P10 during the
test (no gas from Troll C). Figure 7 show that the flow rate in
the test pipeline P10 is stable, while the flow rate in the other
pipeline varies according to the gas export demand.
The injection of MEG is automatically controlled by the
measured gas flow rate and the injection rate is fairly constant
when the gas flow rate is stable, as can be inferred from Figure
7. The large fluctuations in the condensate injection rate
(Figure 7) are mainly due to pressure driven drainage of the
separators that causes a highly irregular injection rate.
Pressure loss measurements (Figure 8) and outlet temperature
measurements (Figure 9) show that the pipeline is well
stabilized before the pig is run in the pipeline.
When the pig starts to enter the landfall zone (about 59-60
hrs), the slug catcher pressure (outlet pressure) starts to
decrease (Figure 10). The slug catcher pressure is allowed to
vary freely to compensate for the static pressure of the liquid
plug in front of the pig. These pressure oscillations reflect the
pipeline profile and the amount of liquid in the plug. The
arrival of the liquid slug is seen in Figure 10, as the density
suddenly rises to the liquid value, and falls down to the gas
density value when the pig has passed by the densitometer.
The pig velocity recorded by the data logger in the pig is
shown in Figure 11. The peak velocities coincide very well
with the topographic peaks near the landfall zone. The pig
velocity reaches minima at the bottom of the hills due to slow
down by accumulated liquid in lower points. The pressure
behind the pig and the static liquid head of the slug governs
the uphill motion of the pig. I.e., the pig accelerates towards
the top of the hill because of increasing difference between the
driving pressure behind the pig and the static liquid head when
the liquid passes over the top of the hill. This is clearly seen in
the last hill (tunnel) towards Kollsnes (Figure 11), and the
effect was even more pronounced for longer liquid plugs.

RONNY ALBRECHTSEN, ELLING SLETFJERDING

Pressure loss
The pressure loss in the P10 pipeline is computed as the
difference between the inlet and outlet pressure measurements
at the end of the test periods. Figure 12 shows the measured
pressure loss versus gas flow rate for tests carried out in 2002
and previously recorded operational data. The 2002 results are
in good agreement with the previous measurements.
At high gas flow rates (i.e. beyond 70 % of design rate) only a
small amount of liquid is in the pipeline and steady state
conditions are established quickly. At steady state, the liquid
outlet rate equals the liquid input plus the condensed liquid in
the pipeline due to pressure loss and temperature decrease. At
these high gas flow rates the pressure loss is dominated by the
gas velocity, and the pipe flow is nearly equivalent to singlephase gas flow, and the pressure loss is friction dominated
(Figure 12). When the gas flow rate decreases below
approximately 70 %, it can be inferred from Figure 12 that the
pressure loss curve flattens, which is due to accumulation of
liquid in the pipeline because of lower gas velocity. The
increasing amount of liquid in the pipeline as the flow rate
decreases tend to shift the pressure loss mechanism from
friction towards gravity dominated. However, the measured
pressure loss does not become fully gravity dominated, since
the pressure loss measurements do not increase as the flow
rate decreases.
Accumulated liquid volumes
Measurements of liquid volumes were based on three different
measurement principles (as previously described) and the
mean values were computed. However, in some of the tests,
one or two of the measurements of liquid volumes were
excluded from the analysis because the measurements were
out of range or obviously incorrect.
The volumes measured are the volumes of the liquid plug that
was formed in front of the pig. To estimate the total liquid
inventory of the pipeline, the amount of liquids produced out
of the pipeline during pigging is added to the measured plug
volume. The volumes of the liquids produced during pigging
are estimated based on typical gas liquid ratios.
Figure 13 shows the mean values of the total liquid content
(aqueous glycol and condensate) in the pipeline for the
different tests. Liquid volume is expressed as per cent of slug
catcher capacity, and there is no danger to overfill the slug
catcher at these flow conditions. Previous tests from 1996 and
1997 are also included in the diagram for comparision. The
previous measurements indicate considerable more liquid than
the 2002 test results. Liquid accumulation measurements show
that the pipeline is "drier" than expected, i.e. it indicates
lighter gas composition.
Generally, the measured liquid volumes show that the liquid
accumulation increases gradually at flow rates from 70 to 55

PSIG 03B1

% of design rate. Then a much sharper increase in liquid


accumulation is experienced between 55 and 50 % of design
rate. At flow rates as low as 55 %, the flow in the pipeline is
still not solely gravity dominated. Frictional forces between
gas and liquid still ensure a relatively effective liquid transport
at this flow rate. All tests, except the test at the lowest flow
rate were found to be fully stabilized before pigging.

CONCLUSIONS
A comprehensive measurement program has been designed
and conducted successfully in the Troll-Kollsnes P10 gascondensate pipeline. The planned test program, including
measurements of liquid accumulation, pressure drop and pig
velocity, was completed due to valuable contributions from
personnel from various resource units in Statoil.
The test program comprised seven main tests. Each test lasted
for about 48 hours and was carefully planned and performed
without interferring the field production and gas transport.
Measurement data from a large number of instruments were
acquired and stored for each test using a dedicated logging
program. Existing process instrumentation onshore and
offshore were used as a basis for the field test measurements.
It was, however, necessary to use additional instruments
dedicated for detailed flow measurements, such as velocity
and volume of liquid slugs. For this purpose, three gamma
densitometers were designed and installed temporarily on the
outlet of the test pipeline. This enables accurate measurement
of liquid slugs in the pipeline and is of great importance in
such field tests.
The measurement results will be used for verification and
improving dynamic multiphase simulation codes, such as
OLGA2000 and PeTra. Full-scale field data are inevitable
valuable to strengthen and improve multiphase flow
simulation programs. Furthermore, the measurement results
and the experience gained from the tests will be used to revise
and improve operating procedures for Troll-Kollsnes and other
gas-condensate transport systems operated by Statoil.
Generally, the experience and knowledge gained from
systematic field test measurements are of great importance for
design and operation of new and existing pipeline systems.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors ackowledge the Troll license with the partners
Statoil, Petoro, Norsk Hydro, Shell, TotalFinaElf and Conoco
for permission to publish this paper. The co-funding of the
field tests from Gassco is also appreciated. Valuable
contributions from the operational personnel on Troll A and
Kollsnes during planning and execution of the tests are
greatfully appreciated.

PSIG 03B1

Full-scale multiphase flow tests in the Troll pipelines

TABLES
Flow rate
[% design rate]

Outlet pressure
[bar / psi]

Pigging

Test duration
[hrs]

Test period

90

90 / 1305

No

26

06-07 July 02

80

90 / 1305

Yes

55

02-05 July 02

70

90 / 1305

Yes

50

08-11 July 02

65

90 / 1305

Yes

52

21-23 Aug 02

60

90 / 1305

Yes

48

11-14 July 02

0.55

90 / 1305

Yes

54

02-04 Sept 02

50

90 / 1305

Yes

53

12-14 Aug 02

Test No.

Table 1 Overview of planned and performed test program in the P10 pipeline. Test 1 was a high rate pressure loss
test. Test 2 7 were liquid accumulation tests. Design flow rate is 50 MSm3/d [1766 MSCF/d].

FIGURES
Liquid accumulation

350

Pressure loss

195

300

175

Liquid volume

Pressure loss

250

155

200
150

135

100

115

50

95

75
150

25

50

75

100

125

Gas flow rate


Figure 1 Typical liquid accumulation and pressure loss trends for wet gas pipeline transport. At high gas rate the liquid is
effectively transported out of the pipeline and it is only small amount of liquid in the pipeline. The pressure loss is frictional
dominated and similar to the single-phase gas pressure loss. Liquid accumulation increases dramatically when the gas flow
rate decreases below a minimum value. The pressure loss mechanism becomes gravity dominated and increases as the liquid
content increases in the pipeline.

RONNY ALBRECHTSEN, ELLING SLETFJERDING

PSIG 03B1

Troll B

Kollsnes
Slug catcher 1

P10
Troll A

P11
Gas

Free water

Slug catcher 2

Condensate

Troll C

MEG/water

Glycol regeneration

Figure 2 Schematic of the wet gas transport from the Troll platforms to Kollsnes. Free water and condensate are separated
at wellhead conditions on Troll A, where the water is removed and condensate is re-injected into the gas stream. Rich gas in
dense phase from Troll B and C are mixed with the Troll A gas on the Troll A platform upstream the inlet of P10 and P11.
Glycol (approx. 90 % lean MEG) is injected at Troll A, and after separation in the slug catcher at Kollsnes the glycol is
regenerated and transported back to Troll A in a separate 4" pipeline (not shown in the figure).

Troll A - Kollsnes pipeline profile


0.2
0
Scaled elevation (h/H)

Tunnel outlet
(Kollsnes)

Troll A

-0.2
-0.4
-0.6

Tunnel inlet

-0.8
-1
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Scaled distance (l/L)


Figure 3 Pipeline elevation profile for P10/P11 between Troll A and Kollsnes. The distance from Troll A is scaled by the total
pipe length L = 67 km [41.6 miles] and the elevation is scaled by the maximum water depth H = -350 m [1150 ft].

PSIG 03B1

Full-scale multiphase flow tests in the Troll pipelines

Test 4 detail: Condensate volume in slug catcher

Test 4 detail: Glycol volume in slug catcher


1

1
Slug catcher A dP
Slug catcher B dP
Slug catcher A gamma
Slug catcher B gamma

0.9

Slug catcher A dP
Slug catcher B dP
Slug catcher A gamma
Slug catcher B gamma

0.9

0.8
0.8

Glycol volume []

Condensate volume []

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.3
0.4

0.2
0.3

0.1

0.2

10

20

30

40
50
60
70
80
time [min], starttime 3 h after pig launch

90

100

10

20

30

40
50
60
70
time [min], starttime 3 h after pig launch

80

90

100

Figure 4 Example of condensate (left) and aqueous glycol (right) volume measurements when a liquid plug enters
the slug catchers during pigging of the P10 pipeline. The y-axes are scaled with the maximum volume of condensate
(left) and glycol (right), 1000 m3 [35320 ft3] and 250 m3 [8830 ft3] respectively.

v
L

Figure 5 Measurement setup for liquid plug measurements in the test pipeline P10. The setup comprises two gamma
densitometers placed a distance L apart.
Test 4 gamma densitometers

density (relative water density) []

Gamma4
Gamma3
Gamma1

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
30

32

34

36
38
40
time [min], starttime 3 h after pig launch

42

44

Figure 6 Example of density measurements when a liquid plug and pig passes the two densitometers (gamma4 and gamma3)
located approx. 100 m [328 ft] apart and the readings from the densitometer (gamma1) placed downstream the two others.

10

RONNY ALBRECHTSEN, ELLING SLETFJERDING

PSIG 03B1

Test 3: Gas flow rates in P10 and P11


1

Gas flow rate [%]

0.8
0.6
0.4
PIG in pipeline

0.2
0

P10
P11
0

10

20

30

40

50

Test 3: MEG and condensate injection rates P10


1
MEG
Condensate

Injection rate []

0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0

10

20
30
40
time [hours], starttime 08.07.02 16:00:08

50

Figure 7 Flow rate and injection rate measurements during Test 3. Y-axis scaled with design rate (top figure) and
10 m3/h [353.2 ft3/h] (bottom figure).

Test 3: Inlet and outlet pressures P10


1.1
Inlet pressure P10
Outlet pressure P10

Pressure []

1.05
1

PIG in pipeline

0.95
0.9
0.85
0.8

10

20

30

40

50

Test 3: Pressure drop P10


0.2

Pressure drop []

Pressure drop P10

0.15

0.1

0.05

10

20
30
40
time [hours], starttime 08.07.02 16:00:08

50

Figure 8 Pressure measurements during Test 3. Both Y-axes are scaled with mean inlet pressure.

PSIG 03B1

Full-scale multiphase flow tests in the Troll pipelines

11

Test 3: Temperatures
70
Troll A inlet P10
Troll B inlet P10

140

50
40

104

30
PIG in pipeline

20

68

Temperature [F]

Temperature [C]

60

10
0

10

20

30

40

50

15

32

59

10

50

41

10

20
30
40
time [hours], starttime 08.07.02 16:00:08

50

Temperature [F]

Temperature [C]

Kollsnes outlet P10

32

Figure 9 Temperature measurements during Test 3.

Test 3: Outlet Pressure during pigging P10


1.03
P10 outlet pressure

Pressure []

1.02
1.01
1
0.99
0.98
0.97

52.5

53

53.5

54

54.5

55

Test 3: Measured density outlet P10

Density (relative water) []

1
Density outlet P10
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0

52.5

53

53.5
54
54.5
time [hours],starttime 08.07.02 16:00:08

55

Figure 10 Outlet pressure and density measurements during pigging of Test 3. Y-axis on top figure is scaled with the mean
outlet pressure.

12

RONNY ALBRECHTSEN, ELLING SLETFJERDING

PSIG 03B1

Test 3: Measured PIG velocity


1
Pig Velocity

Pig velocity []

0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

0.7

0.8

0.9

Test 3: Pipeline profile


Pipeline profile

Elevation []

0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5
0.6
Pipeline length []

Figure 11 Measured pig velocity and pipeline profile during Test 3. Pig velocity (top figure) is scaled with the maximum
velocity, the elevation profile is scaled with the maximum depth and the total pipe length (cf. Figure 3).

Pressure loss in P10

Relative pressure loss

0.25

Single-phase prediction
Tests 2002
Previous operational data

0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Gas flow rate [% of design rate]


Figure 12 Relative pressure loss versus gas flow rate in the P10 pipeline. The pressure loss is relative to the inlet
pressure. The single-phase prediction is based on isothermal gas equation using average gas properties and total
mass flow rate of gas and liquid.

PSIG 03B1

Full-scale multiphase flow tests in the Troll pipelines

13

Troll field tests - Total liquid volume in pipeline

Liquid volume [% of slug catcher capacity]

60
Tests 2002
Test 1997

50

Test 1996

40

30
20

10
0
45

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

Gas flow rate [% of design rate]

Figure 13 Total liquid content in the pipeline P10. The amount of liquids produced out of the pipeline during
pigging has been added to the measured plug volume

Appendix A Biographies
Ronny Albrechtsen received a M.Sc. degree in Petroleum
Engineering from Stavanger College (Norway) in 1990. He has
worked seven years at different technical colleges and
universities with lecturing and fundamental research on
measurement and analysis of multiphase flow in pipes, and was
awarded a PhD on this subject by Aalborg University
(Denmark) in 1998. After 3 years as Program Manager within
process metering at Christian Michelsen Research he joined
STATOIL ASA in 2001 and works with optimisation and
analysis of gas transport. Albrechtsen is now Sr. Discipline
Adviser within gas transport analysis.
Elling Sletfjerding is Staff Engineer in STATOIL ASA.
Sletfjerding received his Doctoral degree from the Department
of Petroleum Engineering and Applied Geophysics at the
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in
Trondheim (Norway) in 1999 and his Master of Science degree
in Applied Mechanics from the Royal Institute of Technology
in Stockholm (Sweden) in 1994. Sletfjerding has been involved
in research and development for 8 years working primarily
with single phase gas flow in pipelines, multiphase flow and
flow assurance.

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