OLGA Tips and Traps

Pipeline discretisation
For each pipeline GEOMETRY we must specify the number of calculation segments (sections) per pipe The number of sections is a compromise: accuracy vs computation time The number of sections is important when temperatures, pressures and velocities change rapidly

Pipeline discretisation cont.

Some terrain effects are lost if grid is too coarse
due to the staggered grid solution scheme

Example case:
3000 SCF/BBL GOR multiphase production very hilly terrain
Hilly Terrain Multiphase Pipeline Profile

Elevation (m)

3100 2900 2700 2500 0 6000 13500 Distance (m) 19000

Effect of pipeline discretisation

Pressure drop varying for varying number of segments 400
Total pressure drop(psi)

360

320 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 Multiplication factor for # of segments

Pipeline discretisation
summary
Check sensitivity to discretisation
Finer discretisation reduces errors and increase computing time

Try to use at least 2 segments for any pipe Try not to violate the following rule:

Li

Li+1

0.5 Li / Li+1 2 for all i

Pipeline discretisation and time step

The time step HT is limited by the CFL criterion for implicit solutions (default = ON)

CFL: HT < min ( Lsection/Ufluid)

You may also limit HT by the 2nd derivative of pressure (default = OFF) Use DTCONTROL to change defaults Moreover, HT is always limited by Controller action and Slugtracking

SHUT-IN simulations
In some cases OLGA gives un-physical pressure rises in a pipeline that has been shut-in for a while, where the temperature is falling. Ways of getting around it:
Reduce the time step and/or reduce the ratio of MAXDT/ MINDT to limit the changes in time-step. Re-section the pipeline with somewhat shorter sections where there are liquid interfaces.

The problem is mainly due to limitations in the Fluid Table approach and the best solution is to use either Compositional Tracking or the Black Oil model.
Black oil parameters may have to be tuned with PVTsim to work properly

Shut-in continued
The main source of the problem is flashing of liquid to gas when the gas-liquid interface crosses section boundaries due to movements caused by the numerics. There is usually no equivalent condensation, and the result is a slight increase in pressure over time. Most frequent problem cases: several gas/liquid interfaces and relatively little gas (pressure increases quite rapidly when extra gas is created), the liquid density decreases with pressure there are sections filled with liquid

Steady state - an example

[m]

Elevation profile 2

Elevation

0
-1

FLOWLINE

PIPE ID = 0.5 m -2
-2.5

total # of sections: 20
500
Horizontal length [m]

1000

1500

Steady state example cont.

35 30 25 (%) 20 15 10 5 0 0 5 10 15 Flowrate (kg/s) 20 25
Steady state preprocessor Dynamic steady state

Total liquid inventory in % of pipe volume

Steady state example cont.

16 12 (%) 8 4 0 12 14 Flowrate (kg/s) 16 Total liquid inventory in % of pipe volume
Steady state preprocessor Dynamic steady state

General observation
At lower flowrates and a pipe with dips and humps (gravity dominated flow) an obtained steady state solution may be meaningless since the flow in reality may exhibit continuous fluctuations.

Steady state stratified flow

All steady state stratified flow models solve the same type of equation by iterating on liquid holdup
(OLGA uses time stepping to iterate to a dynamic steady state solution)

The equation has normally only one root, but it may have multiple roots for:
upward inclination angles low liquid velocities low/medium gas velocities

Stability analysis show that only one root is stable The existence of multiple roots is now demonstrated by experiments OLGA does not always converge to the minimum liquid holdup solution (maximum gas volume fraction)

Stratified flow - possible steady state solutions

1.0 F() 0.5

UsL = 0.001 m/s Usg = 0.8 m/s = 0.2 0.75

0.0

=
0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9

gas volume fraction 1

-0.5

0.7 0.65

liquid holdup = 1-

the solution to F () =0 is found by iteration, starting at =1

Stratified flow - conclusion

Be concerned whether OLGA finds the right liquid inventory for high GOR flow in hilly terrain OLGA should find the right liquid inventory after pigging or after a rate change from a high to a lower rate

Initial conditions
Pressure boundary

WELL reservoir pressure

The steady state pre-processor may have problems finding a solution at t = 0 Use INITIALCONDITIONS and specify - a high gas volume fraction (void fraction) everywhere - pressure gradient with correct direction

Network
OLGA was designed to handle converging networks

Split nodes and closed loops are also possible

Loop line design case Schematic

Gas Plant

Cluster 1

Cluster 2

Cluster 3

Loop line design case - single branch OLGA model

Node

Source1 Source 2

Source 3

Node

Pressure boundary

P plant

Pressure boundary

Loop line design case closed loop OLGA model

Terminal Node Pressure boundary Merging Node

splitting Node Source1 Source2 Source3 Terminal Node Closed boundary

A typical network
Blow Down Valve to e.g. flare SD Valve

Possible OLGA model

BDV back pressure
Pressure NODE Pressure NODE

BDV

Closed NODE

Node: INTERNAL

SDV

Separator pressure

Source

Blow down simulation

BDV Pb

Q Flow direction Normal operation Source flow = Q BDV opening = 0 SDV opening = 1

SDV

Ps Blow down Source flow = 0 BDV opening = 1 SDV opening = 0

Bubble / Dew points

OLGA does NOT check against dew points In the gas region - outside the 2-phase region, the predicted gas mass fraction can be different from 1 due to linear interpolation across the dew point line Above bubble point no mass transfer i.e. gas is not condensed/dissolved When actual P,T is close to critical then fluid properties could be dubious

Phase envelope
TEST 4 6000 BHS OIL C10+

Table Points
Crit P

5000

Gas mass fraction could be < than 1 due to linear interpolation

4000

3000

2000

1000

0 -100 0 100 200 300 400 Temperature/F 500 600 700 800 900

Water vapour and free water

Water vapour
No check on available wat.vapour

Water

OK

Flashing

Liquid water

No separate mass equation for water vapour in basic OLGA Assumption:

The gas phase is always saturated with water vapour

Mass transfer of water

Water vapour mass fraction from fluid table:

Rsw =

mH 2Ovapour mgas

Change in water vapour mass fraction due to change in pressure and temperature:

Rsw Rsw Rsw = p + T p T

Saturated and undersaturated gas

If there is a change in Rsw due to changes of P,T water may condense even if no water vapour is left in the gas Be careful simulating undersaturated gases with standard OLGA Possible to turn off water flashing

Standard volume flow in sources and wells

You may specify e.g. PHASE = OIL in SOURCE Qoil , GOR (or GLR) and Water Cut. (Equivalent for gas) All the variables are assumed to be at standard conditions Standard conditions (1 atm. and 60 F) must be a point within the fluid table P&T boundaries If you do not specify GOR the fluid table value is used On terminal nodes you specify GOR (or GLR) and WC

Equivalent mass rate is calculated :

STD & mtot = QoSTD ( oSTD + GOR g +

wc STD w ) 1 wc

calculates volume flow of gas using GOR calculates volume flow of water using WC converts to mass flows using std. densities adds up mass flow for each phase wc: watercut fraction [0, 1]

Standard conditions tips

Your specified GOR should be to the GOR of the fluid table Use a dense grid in the PVT table around std. cond.
fluid densities are taken from interpolation in PVT table

OLGA expects that GOR is from a 0. stage flash