IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,650,075
Granted Patent B2
US 12,650,075 · App. 17/991,952 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

System for monitoring real-time flow assurance occurrences

Inventors: Marcia Cristina Khalil De Oliveira (Rio de Janeiro, BR); Guilherme Dos Santos Vieira Lima (Rio de Janeiro, BR); Andreia Souza Carvalho (Rio de Janeiro, BR); Daniel Monteiro Pimentel (Rio de Janeiro, BR); Thiago Geraldo Da Silva (Rio de Janeiro, BR); Rogerio Leite Alves Pinto (Macaé, BR); Luiz Fernando Rambalducci Dalla (Vitória, BR)
Assignee: Petróleo Brasileiro S.A.—Petrobras
E21B47/10G01F1/88E21B2200/20G01F1/74
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,650,075
App. No.
17/991,952
Granted
Jun 9, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention addresses to a real-time flow assurance occurrence monitoring system with the aim of reducing oil production losses caused by occurrences in the flow assurance area, which uses a web tool to integrate results of simulations of multiphase flow and thermodynamic simulators with production data and specific correlations, developed to monitor the formation of deposits or blockages in subsea lines. This tool has the specific objective of monitoring the formation of hydrates, paraffins and emulsions in real time and other occurrences that may cause a production shutdown. Based on this information, it issues an alert of the occurrence in the control rooms of the operational units, supporting decision-making on operational procedures that must be carried out to avoid the loss of oil production. It further records the operations carried out to mitigate occurrences. All data is structured in tables and graphs and can be exported to other systems.

Claims (26)

1 . A system for monitoring real-time flow assurance occurrences, wherein the system comprises:

a hydrate formation monitoring system configured to:

obtain pressure and temperature data from sensors of a production system,

perform a first thermodynamic simulation of the production system, and

calculate hydrate formation probability using the obtained pressure and temperature data and results of the first thermodynamic simulation,

a paraffin formation monitoring system configured to:

identify oil properties and operational variables responsible for paraffin formation based on historical production data,

define a criterion to indicate a critical zone of paraffin formation using the identified oil properties and operational variables,

obtain oil properties and operational variable data from the production system, and

assess a risk for paraffin formation based on the defined criterion and the obtained oil properties and operational variable data,

a shutdown occurrence monitoring system configured to:

determine hydrate blockage probability of the production system based on a number of production shutdowns that exceed available waiting time (AWT),

an emulsion formation monitoring system configured to:

establish criteria for emulsion formation; and

evaluate emulsion formation in the production system by monitoring at least one property of the production system and comparing it to the established criteria,

a system with identification of nodal points of inorganic scale in a thermo-hydraulic profile configured to:

obtain the thermo-hydraulic profile of the production system,

perform a second thermodynamic simulation of the production system, and

assess a risk for scale formation using the obtained thermo-hydraulic profile and results of the second thermodynamic simulation,

an Intelligent Production Surveillance (IPS) configured to alert an operator of a risk of occurrences of blockages of flow assurance, and

a graphical interface for providing an integral view of the production system that includes risks of occurrences of blockages of flow assurance predicted using the hydrate formation monitoring system, the paraffin formation monitoring system, the shutdown occurrence monitoring system, the emulsion formation monitoring system, and the system with identification of nodal points of inorganic scale in the thermo-hydraulic profile.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein a multiphase flow rate meter (MFM) displays a reading of pressure×temperature profiles generated every 5 minutes and a reading for loading geometry and nodal points.

3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the nodal points comprise a chemical injection mandrel, wet Christmas tree (WCT), downhole safety valve (DHSV), subsea electrical submersible pumping (SESP), lift gas valve, and stationary production unit (SPU).

4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the intelligent production surveillance (IPS) shows an indication of the hydrate formation probability.

5 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the system for monitoring real-time flow assurance occurrences displays data reading from a web tool.

6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one property of the production system comprises a pressure drop resulting from a formation of emulsions.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 23, 2024
From: CRISTINA KHALIL DE OLIVEIRA, MARCIA; DOS SANTOS VIEIRA LIMA, GUILHERME; SOUZA CARVALHO, ANDREIA; MONTEIRO PIMENTEL, DANIEL; GERALDO DA SILVA, THIAGO; LEITE ALVES PINTO, ROGERIO; FERNANDO RAMBALDUCCI DALLA, LUIZ
To: PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A. - PETROBRAS
Reel/Frame 067510/0554 →
Priority Claims (1)
BR 10 2021 023764 3 · Nov 25, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230160297A1 · May 25, 2023
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