2012 Spring Meeting & 8th Global Congress on Process Safety

(148b) Field Results for Slurry Flow

Authors

Larry D. Talley - Presenter, ExxonMobil Upstream Research
Jason W. Lachance - Presenter, ExxonMobil Upstream Research
Michael Eaton - Presenter, ExxonMobil Upstream Research
Doug J. Turner - Presenter, ExxonMobil Development Company
Don P. Shatto - Presenter, ExxonMobil Development Company


The formation of non-agglomerating hydrate slurries has been reported by several laboratories.  Pumpable hydrate slurries have been generated successfully in re-circulating loops.  However, a slow hydrate film growth mechanism prevented sustained slurry flow in a recent field trial.  This paper reports the observations of hydrate film formation in a once-through 3/8-inch lab apparatus and its relationship to observations in a once-through 4-inch field facility.  The origin of this film formation will be discussed.