Hydrates

The Scope of Work for this effort will be divided into five (5) sub-projects: (i) Managing Hydrates in Late Field Life Situations; (ii) Under-inhibited Systems; (iii) High Pressure Jumper Design; (iv) Development of Techniques to Monitor Hydrates and/or Characterize Hydrate Slurries; (v) Development of Simulation Tools. The tasks are described as follows: Managing Hydrates in Late Field Life Situations Simulate several late field scenarios with focus on high water cut, emulsified oil, and low gas-oil-ratios.

This project assesses potential solutions to the disruptions of production restart from hydrates affecting pipelines after a long shut in period such as a hurricane. Work shows that it may be possible to reduce the risk of hydrate plugging by selecting an appropriate restart rate. MMS and industry will use the results of this project to reduce the risk of having hydrates stop production restarts.

The Gulf of Mexico Hydrates JIP, in collaboration with NETL/DOE, is investigating naturally occurring gas hydrates in the GOM.

The goals of the JIP include:

This is a proprietary Join Industry Project with the task of understanding of hydrate conditions in pipelines and risers. This study will develop modeling analysis to help predict and prevent hydrate flow problems.

This is a JIP designed to disseminate new information to address hazard concerns related to hydrates and to stimulate new research. Objectives of the research include: mapping gas hydrates in geophysical context across the Gulf of Mexico, and analyzing new samples of natural gas hydrate. The focus is on reservoir characterization, the effects of gas hydrates on sea floor stability, and on pipeline plugging and potential rupture.

This is a Joint Industry Project (JIP). The purpose of this project is to develop a gas hydrates prediction model for drilling fluids made from salts and glycerol. The model will include two prediction methods for the hydrate temperature suppression. High pressure hydrate equilibrium and resistivity data will be acquired in the first phase of the proposal. The second phase will involve the final development of the computer prediction model. The model will be verified against field and laboratory data.

This is a Joint Industry Project (JIP). The purpose of this project is to develop a model to predict the rate of hydrate plug decomposition; to measure the mobility of hydrate plugs with/without kinetic inhibitors; and to characterize the morphology of gas hydrates.

Produce a written review of the state of the art in topics as the prevention of hydrate formation and removal of hydrates during drilling, production, transportation, and other processing of hydrocarbons. These topics will become increasingly important to the safety of operations as industry moves into the deeper parts of the Gulf of Mexico, where the colder temperatures cause more hydrate

The objective was to assess the feasibility and costs of developing exploration and production systems for Lease Sale 87 in the Diapir Field, Beaufort Sea, Alaska. Sea ice, unconsolidated sediments, soil slumping, shallow gas concentrates, subsea permafrost, gas hydrates, and ice gouges are some of the factors which will complicate development in this area. This project was a cooperative effort composed of twenty industry participants and the Minerals Management Service.