An improved computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for predicting hydrate deposition rate and wall shear stress in offshore gas-dominated pipeline

Gas hydrates in pipelines is still a flow assurance problem the oil and gas industry requires proactive hydrate plugging risk predicting model. As an active area of research, this work has developed 3D 10 m length by 0.0204 diameter horizontal pipe CFD model based on eulerian-eulerian multiphase modelling framework to predict deposition rate gas-dominated pipeline. The proposed simulates conditions for formation with user defined functions (UDFs) both energy mass sources implemented ANSYS Fluent, commercial software. empirical rates predicted at varying subcooling temperatures velocities are consistent experimental results within ±10% uncertainty bound. At lower velocity 4.7 m/s, overpredicted Aman et al. (2016) 9–25.7%, whereas analytical Di Lorenzo (2018) underpredicted same range 27–33%. Consequently, can enhance predictions earlier than model, especially low productivity. Similarly, 8.8 m/s 2.5 K, 7.1 K 8.0 regressed (2014a) 14%, 6% 4% respectively, 1% temperature 4.3 K. From results, we also suggest that sloughing shear stress relatively constant, wall shedding vary during deposition. Finally, phase change formation, agglomeration, • A transient was developed. framework. improved velocity. Hydrate increases similar factor as pipeline size increases. Wall likely higher 100–200 Pa suggested literature.