Key information

Title: SUBSEA FLUID PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD
Application number: 20171259
Case type: PCT-based
Status: 28.04.2025 Patent meddelt (B1)
Filed: 28.07.2017
Priority: 29.12.2014 NO 20141566
International application date: 29.12.2015
International application number: PCT/NO2015/050263
Effective date: 29.12.2015
Publicly available: 28.07.2017
Next annual fee due: 31.12.2026
Applicant: Aker Carbon Capture Norway AS (NO)
Owner: Aker Carbon Capture Norway AS (NO)
Inventor: Geir Inge Olsen (NO) et al.
Agent: ZACCO NORWAY AS (NO)
Granted: 28.04.2025
Patent number: 348678
Expiry date: 29.12.2035

Abstract and drawing

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.

It is described a subsea fluid processing system adapted to receive a wellstream flow (1A, 101A) comprising a pressure control device (2,112) adapted to regulate the pressure of the wellstream flow (1A, 101A), a gas-liquid separator unit (4,105) adapted to receive the wellstream flow (1A, 101A) downstream of the pressure control device (2,112) and provide a liquid stream (4A, 105A) and a gas stream (4B, 105B), a first membrane separator (5,106) adapted to receive the gas stream (4B, 105B) and provide a retentate stream (5B, 106A) and a permeate stream (5A, 106B), a compressor (6,110) adapted to receive the permeate stream (5A, 106B) and provide a compressed permeate stream (6A, 110A), a discharge cooler (7, 111) adapted to receive the compressed permeate stream (6A, 110A) and provide a cooled permeate stream (7A, 111A) for injection into a subsurface reservoir, whereby the cooled permeate stream (7A, 111A) has higher density than the compressed permeate stream (6A, 110A).

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Date	Doc. No.	Process	Case number	In/Out	Journal description	To/from
29.04.2025	08-01	Saksbehandling	20171259(348678)	UT	PT Registreringsbrev nasjonal patent (15) (PT20171259)
19.02.2025	07-01	Saksbehandling	20171259	UT	Intention to grant	ZACCO NORWAY AS
13.11.2024	06-03	Saksbehandling	20171259	INN	Translation of the claims into Norwegian	ZACCO NORWAY AS
13.11.2024	06-02	Saksbehandling	20171259	INN	Response to Office Action	ZACCO NORWAY AS
13.11.2024	06-01	Saksbehandling	20171259	INN	Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn)	ZACCO NORWAY AS
19.08.2024	05-01	Saksbehandling	20171259	UT	Substantive Examination	ZACCO NORWAY AS
29.04.2024	04-06	Saksbehandling	20171259	INN	P300616NO00 Response to Office Action	ZACCO NORWAY AS
29.04.2024	04-05	Saksbehandling	20171259	INN	Amended description (marked)	ZACCO NORWAY AS
29.04.2024	04-04	Saksbehandling	20171259	INN	Amended description (clean)	ZACCO NORWAY AS
29.04.2024	04-03	Saksbehandling	20171259	INN	Amended claims (marked)	ZACCO NORWAY AS
29.04.2024	04-02	Saksbehandling	20171259	INN	Amended claims (clean)	ZACCO NORWAY AS
29.04.2024	04-01	Saksbehandling	20171259	INN	Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn)	ZACCO NORWAY AS
04.11.2023	03-02	Saksbehandling	20171259	UT	PT report 01:41:56
04.11.2023	03-01	Saksbehandling	20171259	UT	20171259_1773989_PT 08 Eng	ZACCO NORWAY AS
11.06.2021	03-01	Overdragelse av søknad/rettighet	2021/05575	UT	GH Forespørsel	ZACCO NORWAY AS
09.06.2021	04-03	Overdragelse av søknad/rettighet	2021/05575	INN	NO Patents Zacco
09.06.2021	04-02	Overdragelse av søknad/rettighet	2021/05575	INN	2021-05-25 General POA - signed
09.06.2021	04-01	Overdragelse av søknad/rettighet	2021/05575	INN	Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn)
29.04.2021	02-01	Overdragelse av søknad/rettighet	2021/05575	UT	GH Forespørsel	ZACCO NORWAY AS
13.04.2021	01-07	Overdragelse av søknad/rettighet	2021/05575	INN	List of Cases - NO 104381	ZACCO NORWAY AS
13.04.2021	01-06	Overdragelse av søknad/rettighet	2021/05575	INN	5- Clean Carbon to Aker Engineering and Technology 104382	ZACCO NORWAY AS
13.04.2021	01-05	Overdragelse av søknad/rettighet	2021/05575	INN	4- Aker Solutions AS_merger confirmation 104386	ZACCO NORWAY AS
13.04.2021	01-04	Overdragelse av søknad/rettighet	2021/05575	INN	- Certificate of Registration - ACC 104385	ZACCO NORWAY AS
13.04.2021	01-03	Overdragelse av søknad/rettighet	2021/05575	INN	- Withdrawal of name registration 104384	ZACCO NORWAY AS
13.04.2021	01-02	Overdragelse av søknad/rettighet	2021/05575	INN	- ACC APA - EXECUTION VERSION (Signed) only pages related to ransfer of IP 104383	ZACCO NORWAY AS
13.04.2021	01-01	Overdragelse av søknad/rettighet	2021/05575	INN	Generell henvendelse	ZACCO NORWAY AS
02.11.2017	02-01	Saksbehandling	20171259	UT	PT Batch Varsel om betaling av første årsavgift (3317)
28.07.2017	01-07	Saksbehandling	20171259	INN	Krav	Zacco Norway AS
28.07.2017	01-06	Saksbehandling	20171259	INN	Erklæring Søkers rett til oppfinnelse	Zacco Norway AS
28.07.2017	01-05	Saksbehandling	20171259	INN	Fullmakt	Zacco Norway AS
28.07.2017	01-04	Saksbehandling	20171259	INN	Beskrivelse	Zacco Norway AS
28.07.2017	01-03	Saksbehandling	20171259	INN	reviderte tegninger	Zacco Norway AS
28.07.2017	01-02	Saksbehandling	20171259	INN	Krav med sporing	Zacco Norway AS
28.07.2017	01-01	Saksbehandling	20171259	INN	Søknadsskjema Patent	Zacco Norway AS

Description, claims and drawings

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.

Description

The present invention relates to a subsea fluid processing system, and more particularly to a system, which facilitates removal of gaseous components, in particular sour gases, in a petroleum well stream in a subsea environment.

Background

Generally, gas purification can be divided into three main categories:

• Dehydration

• Hydrocarbon dew point control

• Acid gas removal

Conventional technologies used for these processes can generally be divided into the following categories:

• Absorption of a gas component into a chemical

• Adsorption of a gas component on a solid surface

• Membrane permeation by selective barriers to gas components

• Condensing the gas stream in order to remove a liquefied phase

• Chemical conversion of a gas component into a new liquid or solid component that more easily could be separated from the gas

Which technology to use in a given application depends on the type of gas component to be separated from the bulk phase, the concentration of the component and requirement to the composition of the product gas. For the removal of sour components, e.g. CO2 and H2S, from natural gas, the most common method is by using solvents like alkanolamines. The absorption takes place in absorber columns and the alkanolamines are recovered in stripper columns by increasing the temperature and flashing off the CO2.

Amine absorption separation has been in commercial use for many decades and provides a product gas that meets requirements to remaining CO2 content, heating value, etc., but requires large equipment and the energy consumption related to the recovery of the solvents is high. The contactor columns can have diameters up to about 5 meters and total heights up to about 30 meters. The dimensions of the strippers are in the same range. Emissions of toxic components are also an issue related to this gas purification technology.

Another technology being used in the recent years is separation of gas by using membranes. The membranes typically consist of a porous matrix with a coated layer that consists of a polymer that is selective to which gas molecules that can pass through and which are retained. Such membranes have proven to be quite successful since they are not dependent on using solvents in the purification process.

The above mentioned processes for natural gas purification (removal of sour gas components) are normally applied at onshore gas processing facilities or at topsides facilities when gas processing is applied in an offshore environment.

WO2013124339 A1 describes a crude natural gas stream treatment system comprising a first supersonic separator and a second supersonic separator, wherein the first supersonic separator comprises a crude gas inlet, a dry gas outlet and a first liquid outlet; wherein the second supersonic separator comprises a dry gas inlet, a treated gas outlet and a second liquid gas outlet, and wherein the dry gas outlet is in fluid communication with the dry gas inlet is disclosed.

US 2002195251 A1 describes a subsea system for treatment of natural gas, where the gas flow from a natural gas well is pumped up, led through a heat exchanger, further to a gas/liquid separator, from which the gas phase is cooled before it is led to a membrane separator, which can include one or more membrane separators. From the separation unit, the purified gas transported further, while the separated impurities are pumped down into a water-containing rock formation. However, this system does not describe a compression unit and a cooling unit following the membrane separation unit, in order to cool the permeate flow before it is injected into the well.

From Maurand, N et al., “Coupling compositional flow, thermal effects and geochemistry reactions when injecting CO2 in a carbonated oil field”, 7th Trondheim CCS Conference, TCCS-7, June 5-6, 2013, Trondheim, Norway, Energy Procedia 51 (2014) 316 – 325, it is described computer modelling performed to investigate the thermal effect and geochemical reactions by injecting CO2 into an oilfield. Simulations were performed at four different temperatures of the injected CO2 gas. The results of the simulations show that the cooling of the oil reservoir by injecting CO2, increases the mobility in the reservoir and contribute positively to the recovery of oil from the field.

DE 102006015088 describes a process for removal of water and other noncondensable components from natural gas. The process comprises compressing and cooling of the inflowing gas mixture in a first compressor stage, where the resulting condensate from the natural gas stream is removed in a first gas/liquid separator, and the gas is led through a demister and further to a first membrane separation stage. In the separation stage, the impurities are removed over the membrane and this flow is compressed , cooled, condensate is removed in a gas/liquid separator, and is led via a demister to a second membrane separation stage. Retentate form the first and second separation stage is removed for further use, while the collected liquid is discharged.

US 2006042463 describes a process and method for removal of acid components in a flow of natural gas by using a two-stage membrane separation process. The crude gas is being cooled and pretreated before it is brought into contact with a membrane separation unit. Permeate from this unit is cooled an compressed before it is led through a filter separator and enters the second membrane separation stage. Permeate from this stage is cooled before being led to a micro turbine generator.

CO2 has been used for decades to flood oil reservoirs since this can improve the recovery of hydrocarbons from the reservoir. All current applications of this in industrial scale are done on onshore fields. However, in the recent years this technology is increasingly being considered for use in offshore oil fields due to the desire to extract additional oil resources. In addition, this method also provides simultaneous storage of CO2 in the oil reservoirs and contributes as such to the abatement of greenhouse gases.

When CO2 or hydrocarbon gases are used to flood such oil reservoirs, this is mainly arranged by intermittent injection of the gas and water in an operation called Water Alternating Gas or WAG. Another way to flood such a reservoir is by simultaneous injection of the fluids. In this case, the operation is called SWAG.

However, a major constraint to applying CO2 flooding in offshore oil reservoirs is the handling of the well stream that arises as a result of the flooding. A part of the CO2 gas will follow the production of hydrocarbons and water and lead to rapidly increasing amounts and concentrations of CO2 which will reach the well stream separation equipment on the offshore production facility. These facilities may not have been designed for treating such flow conditions, and thus very high modification costs may be needed to accommodate the facility with new treatment capacity. As noted above, the equipment needed for CO2 separation by conventional methods is generally very large and with little spare weight and space on offshore facilities, the commercial use of offshore CO2 flooding has to date not been sanctioned in commercial projects.

Moreover, when CO2 or hydrocarbon gases will be mixed with, or get in contact with, water as in WAG or SWAG operations, great attention must be paid to the mixing or contacting conditions to avoid formation of hydrates. This typically occurs in the temperature range 15-20 degree C, depending on the pressure. These temperatures may be reached when transporting CO2 in underwater pipelines, unless these are insulated or heated. When such a risk for hydrate formation exists, valves are usually arranged in a way to avoid the two fluids to come in contact with each other through leaking valves. Antifreeze chemicals like MEG or methanol are used as a buffer between water and hydrocarbon gas / CO2 in an over-pressurised barrier, such that a potential leakage is routed from the MEG/methanol to water/gas side.

Summary of the invention

In view of the above and other technical challenges, the objective of the present invention is to provide an improved fluid processing system technology, in particular such technology which is suitable for use with offshore or subsea petroleum fields.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a subsea fluid processing system adapted to receive a wellstream flow comprising

- a pressure control adapted to regulate the pressure of the wellstream flow - a gas-liquid separator unit adapted to receive the wellstream flow downstream of the pressure control device and provide a liquid stream and a gas stream

- a first membrane separator adapted to receive the gas stream and provide a retentate stream and a permeate stream,

- a compressor adapted to receive the permeate stream and provide a compressed permeate stream,

- a discharge cooler adapted to receive the compressed permeate stream and provide a cooled permeate stream having a higher density than the compressed permeate stream for injection into a subsurface reservoir, and - a heat exchanger, whereby the heat exchanger is adapted to transfer heat from the compressed permeate stream to the wellstream flow.

Advantageously, this provides a system that enables subsea separation of a well stream containing high amounts and concentrations of sour gases and reinjection of such gases into a reservoir. By providing a subsea system which can be placed near a wellhead, long transport in underwater pipelines, for example to a topside facility, is avoided, and temperature control of the gases to be injected is made possible.

In a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a subsea fluid processing system wherein the first membrane separator is arranged in a membrane unit the membrane unit comprising a second membrane separator arranged in series with the first membrane separator and whereby a demister is arranged between the membrane separator and the second membrane separator.

Advantageously, this provides an improved separation performance of the system.

Advantageously, this improves the separation of gas from liquid in the system, and simultaneously reduces the cooling load on the cooler.

In a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a subsea fluid processing system as described above, whereby an inlet cooler and an inlet separator are arranged in the wellstream flow upstream of the pressure control device.

Advantageously, this allows liquids to be separated out from the wellstream at high pressure, thereby reducing the load on the components downstream of the pressure control device. Particularly, any absorbed gas, e.g. CO2 absorbed in water forming part of the well stream, will be separated out at this stage.

In a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a system as described above where the cooler is adapted to provide the cooled permeate stream at a temperature higher than a pre-set hydrate formation temperature.

Advantageously, this prevents hydrate formation and ensures flow stability, also in the case of, for example, WAG/SWAG operations. By providing a subsea fluid processing system, which can be located near a subsea wellhead according to the invention, the cooled permeate stream for injection can be maintained above a hydrate formation temperature without requiring insulated or heated underwater pipelines.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the cooler is actively controlled to adjust a cooling power of the cooler.

Advantageously, this allows the system to adapt to any given operating conditions, e.g. with or without WAG/SWAG operation.

In a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a subsea fluid processing system, wherein the first membrane separator and/or the second membrane separator is arranged in a pressure vessel adapted for subsea use and whereby the pressure vessel houses a membrane cartridge assembly, made up of a plurality of membrane cartridges, which is part of the first or second membrane separators.

Advantageously, this gives a compact and robust membrane system with high performance, suitable for subsea use and with the possibility to replace individual membrane modules, e.g. for maintenance or repair, without replacing the entire fluid processing system.

The invention thus enables a technical solution to the separation of a well stream resulting from a flooding of and oil reservoir to achieve increased oil recovery. The invention also ensures that most of the injected CO2 remains in the oil reservoir since the solution provides for separation and reinjection of the CO2. Further, the solution allows less use of external CO2 supply for offshore CO2 EOR than previously required and accordingly will open up for a widespread use of CO2 for EOR in offshore environments.

The invention also ensures that CO2 gas will be reinjected and permanently stored in the reservoir and as such contributes to a sustainable oil and gas production with simultaneous storage of CO2 and greenhouse gas abatement.

This invention further enables exploitation of oil fields that has very high concentrations of CO2 in the associated gas. Cost efficient exploitation of oil fields in remote (for example, arctic) areas will also benefit from the invention since the solution is based on subsea processing and reduces the need for topside equipment.

The present invention allows for removal of typically more than 95% of the CO2 coming from a well stream resulting from an oil reservoir that is flooded with CO2.

In another embodiment of the invention, there is a method of processing a wellstream flow comprising:

operating a pressure control device to regulate the pressure of the wellstream flow;

receiving the wellstream flow in a gas-liquid separator unit and operating the gas-liquid separator unit to provide a liquid stream and a gas stream;

receiving the gas stream in a first membrane separator and operating the first membrane separator to provide a retentate stream and a permeate stream;

compressing the permeate stream in a compressor to produce a compressed permeate stream;

cooling the compressed permeate stream in a discharge cooler; injecting the compressed permeate stream into a subsurface reservoir, wherein the method is carried out in a subsea environment; and

transferring heat from the compressed permeate stream to the wellstream flow.

Brief description of the drawings

Having described the main features of the invention above, a more detailed and non-limiting description of exemplary embodiments of the invention is given below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 shows a subsea fluid processing system according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a subsea fluid processing system according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 illustrates a membrane separator suitable for subsea use in assembled and disassembled form.

Description of preferred embodiments

One embodiment of a subsea fluid processing system according to the invention is shown in Figure 1. A well stream 1A is coming from the production of hydrocarbons from a subsurface well where the wellhead is located at the seabed. The well stream may be provided to the subsea fluid processing system directly from a wellhead or via other subsea processing equipment. The stream 1A typically contains a mixture of water, oil, hydrocarbon gases, CO2, H2S and water vapour. To prepare the well stream from a subsurface wellhead, it is usually transported to a topsides facility for further separation and treatment. In one embodiment, the invention describes how a well stream 1A that contains high amounts and concentrations of sour gases like e.g. CO2 in combination with oil and hydrocarbons can be treated in a subsea arrangement to separate and reinject CO2 into the oil reservoir and ensure transportation of valuable oil and hydrocarbons to a topsides facility.

Referring to Figure 1, the well stream 1A is passed through a choke valve 2 in order to obtain a favourable lower pressure for flashing off gases in the downstream separator 4. In such a case, the temperature in stream 2A will be reduced compared to stream 1A due to the cooling effect of the pressure reduction. To obtain the desired separation conditions for gases and liquids in the separator 4, stream 2A is heated up through the heat exchanger 3.

The heat exchanger 3 is characterized by a compact heat exchanger arrangement for subsea application to utilize the heat in the hot compressed gas coming from the compressor 6 (described below) to heat up the cooled well stream 2A.

The heated well stream 3A is routed to a gas/liquid separator 4. This separator is characterized by a compact arrangement that is suitable for subsea conditions where the liquid phases of water and hydrocarbons are separated from the gaseous phase. The liquid phase 4A from the separator may be mixed with the retentate stream 5B from the membrane separator 5 (described below). This mixed stream 4C can then be routed to an existing topsides facility for further stabilization of the oil and transportation, or directly to shore. A small pressure reduction will occur over the membrane separator 5 such that the pressure in retentate stream 5B will be at a slightly lower pressure than stream 4A. In order to ensure proper flow assurance by the mixing of these streams, a choke valve 8 can be installed in stream 4A. Correspondingly, a choke valve 9 can be installed in retentate stream 5B.

If the pressure is reduced in the choke valve 2 to a level that does not allow free flow of the stream 4C to the topsides facility, a pump must be installed in this stream. This pump is not shown in Figure 1.

The gaseous stream 4B leaving the gas/liquid separator contains a mixture of hydrocarbon gases, CO2 and water vapour. The gas mixture is passed through a membrane separator 5 that has selective properties to let certain gas molecules pass through and retain others. The membrane separator 5 may comprise a membrane unit which is made up of a material like e.g. PEEK and has a coating or polymer material that provide a selective passing of e,g. CO2 gas through the membrane. A high differential pressure across the membrane is usually required to obtain the desired separation efficiency. In this membrane arrangement, the typical hydrocarbon gas components are retained in the stream and leave the membrane separator as a retentate stream 5B that is enriched in HC content compared to the inlet stream 4B. The stream 5A is enriched in gases like CO2 and other inorganic components. This stream is occurring at a lower pressure than the inlet stream 4B due to the pressure drop across the membrane. The pressure in stream 5A is set by the compressor speed.

The membrane separator 5 is characterized by a compact arrangement of membrane cartridges that are suitable for subsea application.

The stream 5A needs a significantly higher pressure in order to allow for injection of the separated gaseous components back into the reservoir or another storage facility. The stream is accordingly passed through a compressor that increases the pressure to the necessary degree for injection. The compression work causes a significant increase of temperature of the gas stream and the stream 6A leaves the compressor at a higher pressure and temperature than the inlet stream 5A.

The compressor 6 is characterized by a compressor system that is applicable for subsea use. The compressor can receive power supply from a topsides facility or through underwater cables. Interstage cooling whereby gas is cooled after partial compression may be utilised.

The hot compressed gas in stream 6A is further passed through the heat exchanger 3 to heat up the well stream 2A if necessary, as described above. The somewhat cooled stream 6A leaves the heat exchanger as stream 3B and is further passed through the cooler 7. This cooler is designed to cool the CO2 enriched gas mixture in stream 3B to a temperature required to bring the CO2 from the gaseous phase into a so called dense phase where the density is considerably higher. This causes a favourable static fluid head pressure in the injection well that receives the cooled CO2 from stream 7A which in turn provides a favourable injection pressure for the CO2 enriched stream to flow into a subsurface reservoir.

The cooler 7 may be arranged with several parallel tubings utilizing the ambient seawater as cooling medium. The cooler can also be equipped with an active control if an accurate temperature control and cooling is required for the stream 3B.

If an additional pressure is needed for injection of the dense phase gas stream 7A into a reservoir, a pump must be installed in this stream. This pump is not shown in Figure 1.

In certain cases there may be special requirements to the quality of the hydrocarbon phase that will be sent to the topsides facility or to the purity of the gaseous stream that shall be compressed and reinjected. In Figure 2, an alternative embodiment according to an aspect of the invention is shown.

Figure 2 shows a subsea fluid processing system according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. The well stream 101A is coming from the production of hydrocarbons from a subsurface well where the wellhead is located at the seabed. The stream typically contains a mixture of water, oil, hydrocarbon gases, CO2 and water vapour. The invention describes how a well stream 101A that contains high amounts and concentrations of sour gases like e.g. CO2 in combination with oil and hydrocarbons can be treated to separate and reinject CO2 into the oil reservoir.

In the first treatment operation, the well stream is cooled in the cooler 102 to utilize the high solubility of CO2 in water at high pressure and low temperature compared to the inlet well stream and as such remove a part of the CO2 through the water. The pressure reduction also provide improved conditions for the flashing of CO2 from the liquid phase as is taking place in the gas/liquid separator 105. The cooler 102 will be designed to provide the desired temperature by applying ambient seawater as cooling medium. The cooling conditions at high pressure and the desired temperature ensures that a part of the CO2 in the well stream 101A stays as absorbed gas in the water phase in the well stream leaving the cooler. The separator 103 is designed to separate the water phase from the other hydrocarbon components in the well stream and the water stream 103A having a saturated content of CO2 is then separated from the well stream and can be routed into the injection well of the reservoir.

Alternatively, the stream 103A can also be mixed with stream 111A before being injected into the injection well.

Further, the separator 103 is characterized by a design that also allows separation of sand particles that might follow the production of hydrocarbons. The separator provides an outlet of the sand particles by the water 103A and will consequently ensure that no clogging will take place in the downstream membrane separators.

Depending on the depth of the reservoir and reservoir pressure, a pressure reduction may be needed in stream 103A to ensure the required pressure of stream 103A at the seabed.

Stream 103B leaving the separator 103 has typically a high pressure and a low temperature. In order to obtain the optimum conditions for separating the CO2 from the hydrocarbon mixture in stream 103B, and at the same time provide a temperature range for allowable operation of the membrane separator, the stream 103B will typically be equipped with a pressure reduction device such as a choke valve 112. The passing of the stream 103B through this pressure reduction device cause a pressure reduction and a subsequent cooling, dependent on the magnitude of the gas phase and pressure in stream 103B. This stream is now utilized as a cooling medium for the compressed CO2 leaving the compressor 110.

The heated stream 104A is then routed to the gas/liquid separator 105 where the gas phase stays in equilibrium with the liquid hydrocarbon mixture. The separator is designed to provide separation of the gas and liquid phases. The separator is designed as a compact device that typically can be installed in a subsea environment.

The stream 105A leaving the separator contains mainly the oil phase including some volatile components that are in equilibrium with the oil phase at the temperature and pressure conditions of the separator.

The gaseous stream 105B leaving the separator 105 contains a mixture of hydrocarbon gases and inorganic gases like CO2 and typically traces of other inorganic gases. This gas stream is directed to a membrane unit 116, comprising one or more membrane separators 106, 108, equivalent to membrane separator 5 described above.

The membrane separators 106,108 may be provided in one or several membrane vessels providing a compact arrangement that is suitable for subsea conditions, described in further detail below. (See Figure 3.)

Optionally, if using more than one membrane separator 106, 108 in membrane unit 116, a demister 107 may be provided between two membrane separators, as shown in Fig.2. The hydrocarbon rich retentate stream 106A from membrane separator 106 leaves the membrane separator at a slightly lower pressure than the inlet stream 105B. This stream is routed to a demister 107 to remove any potential liquid components. This liquid stream 107A will contain a mixture of hydrocarbons (and water if water is not removed in separator 103 as previously described). The stream 107A can be mixed into the hydrocarbon stream 105A from the separator 105.

The stream 107B contains a gaseous mixture of hydrocarbon gases and CO2 and is routed into a second membrane separator 108. Membrane separator 108 is in principle similar to membrane separator 106. In membrane separator 108 a further separation of the gas is done and the hydrocarbon rich retentate stream 108A is mixed with the stream 107A.

Due to a slightly higher pressure in streams 105A and 107A compared to the retentate stream 108A, a pressure reduction device will typically be placed in these streams to even out pressures before mixing. These pressure reduction devices are shown in the Figure 2 as throttle valves 113 and 114.

The permeate stream 108B from the membrane separator 108 is enriched in CO2 content and is mixed with the CO2 enriched stream 106B from membrane separator 106. This mixed stream is directed into a cooler 109. Cooler 109 may use the ambient seawater as cooling medium.

The cooler 109 ensures that the gas conditions for the downstream compressor 110 and heat exchanger 104 are met. The temperature of the cooled gas stream from the cooler 109 is chosen to not exceed a level which would produce an unacceptable high temperature in the compressed gas from the compressor 110 and provide condition for a more efficient compression process. Interstage cooling whereby gas is cooled after partial compression may be utilised. The compressor can receive power supply from a topsides facility or through underwater cables.

The CO2 enriched and compressed gas 110A is heated in the compression process and this heat is used to heat up the cooled well steam 103B in the heat exchanger 104. The heat exchanger 104 is accordingly designed to provide the necessary duty for the heating of stream 103B.

The partly cooled stream 104B is further cooled in a cooler 111. The cooler 111 is a subsea cooler that is using ambient seawater as cooling medium. This cooler is chosen to provide sufficient temperature reduction of the stream 104B to bring the gaseous, CO2-rich stream 104B into a high density phase. At certain conditions of pressure and temperature, CO2 will turn into a so called dense phase with density typically associated with liquid. This is obtained by the cooling in cooler 109 and the dense phase 111A will provide a substantial liquid head pressure when reinjected into the injection well of the reservoir. If the reservoir pressure is higher than the liquid head provided by the dense phase CO2 enriched stream or the injection well is located far away from the subsea separation plant, a pump may be required in addition. (Not shown in Figure 2.) The injected CO2 will then be recirculated in the oil reservoir and be used for increasing the oil recovery.

The stream 112A is the product stream with substantially enriched hydrocarbon content compared to the well stream 101A. The stream 112A can be routed to a topsides facility for further stabilization of the oil phase, or directly to an onshore facility. If the pressure of stream 112A should become too low for allowing flow by natural pressure to the topsides facility, a subsea pump may be installed to ensure flow to the facility. (Not shown in Figure 2.)

While Figure 2 shows a system comprising a number of additional components compared to that in Figure 1, it will be understood that each of the components cooler 102, separator 103, membrane unit 116 and cooler 109 can be used individually or in any combination within the scope of the invention. Each of these components provides a distinct function and advantage in the system, and may, for example, be combined with the system shown in Figure 1 according to specific field operational requirements.

In a further embodiment according to the present invention, there is provided a subsea separation plant according to any of the embodiments described above, wherein the membrane separator is arranged in a pressure vessel adapted for subsea use. Figure 3 illustrates the membrane separator 1010 in assembled and disassembled form. It comprises a pressure vessel 1020 which in the configuration shown is made up of a top shell 1030 and a bottom shell 1040 flanged together. The membrane module further comprises a gas inlet 1050 for receiving gas to be treated (e.g. stream 4B in Fig.1), a treated gas (or retentate) outlet 1060 and a permeate (also known as tail gas) outlet 1070. Access to the interior of the membrane module can be achieved by separating the top shell 1030 and bottom shell 1040 as is shown in Figures 3(b) and 3(c). The pressure vessel 1020 houses a membrane cartridge assembly 1080, which is made up of a plurality of membrane cartridges. The membrane cartridges have an outer sleeve, which houses a substantially cylindrical membrane element. The membrane element can be based on hollow fibre membranes. An opening in each sleeve allows gas to enter the cartridge and flow past the membrane element. In the lower part of the pressure vessel 1020 there is arranged a treated gas header which receives gas from each cartridge sleeve (i.e. from the retentate side of the membrane element), and is connected to the treated gas outlet 1060.

The membrane separator as shown in Figure 3 provides the advantages of allowing a membrane unit to be placed subsea, meeting the requirements of compactness, retrievability, reliability and ability to withstand harsh conditions (including extreme external pressures) required for subsea equipment.

These embodiments according to the present invention, shown in Figures 1-3 and described above, allows a membrane separation system to be adapted for subsea use and placement on the seafloor, close to a production wellhead and a reinjection wellhead. This provides advantages of allowing CO2 separated out of a wellstream 1A/101A at the seafloor and reinjected for deposit and/or pressure support in a reservoir.

In one further aspect of the invention, the cooler 7 or 111 is adapted to provide an output temperature such that the stream 7A/111A has a density favourable for injection of the stream 7A/111A into a storage reservoir. This temperature can be for example 30 degree C or below. This increase in the density of stream 7A/111A produces a larger static head of this stream between the separation plant at the seafloor and the subsurface reservoir in which the CO2 is to be deposited. Thus, the work required for transporting the stream 7A/111A is reduced.

In another aspect of the invention, the cooler 7 or 111 is adapted to control the temperature such that the stream 7A/111A has a temperature providing a suitable fluid density but being above a pre-set hydrate formation temperature. This pre-set temperature may depend on the prevailing conditions and mode of operation (e.g. use of WAG/SWAG), and may be for example below 30 degree C but higher than 20 degree C. The lower temperature limit is set by the conditions for formation of hydrates at the specific operating conditions. The upper temperature limit is governed by the cooling need to obtain the desired increase in density of CO2 before injection into the injection well. This provides the advantage of producing a sufficiently dense phase in the stream 7A, advantageous for the pumping of the CO2 into the reservoir, but at the same time ensuring that no hydrates can be formed if the stream 7A comes in contact with water, for example during WAG operations.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the cooler 7/111 is actively controlled to maintain a temperature providing a suitable fluid density of the stream 7A/111A while staying above a pre-set hydrate formation limit. This can for example be achieved by regulating external heat transfer coefficient for the cooler 7/111.

Design example

An example of the performance of the invention is given below to aid the understanding of one possible implementation of the current invention. The calculations and mass balances are derived for one optimised example of a system as shown in Figure 2 and are presented by way of example only.

The well stream 101A typically has a temperature around 90 degree C and a pressure of 70 bar. Total flow of fluids in the stream amounts to about 193 kg/s where the total content of CO2 amounts to 75,3 kg/s. The cooler 102 reduces the temperature to about 40 degree C and about 4.5 kg/s of CO2 is removed by the water separated in the separator 103. The choke valve 112 in stream 103B reduces the pressure of stream 103B to about 15 degree C and this stream is further heated to about 90 degree C in the heat exchanger 104. The liquid phase 105A from the gas/liquid separator contains a total flow of about 10.7 kg/s, where about 0.6 kg/s is made up of CO2. The gas phase 105B has a total flow of components equal to about 73.7 kg/s where about 70.1 kg/s is CO2. The CO2 enriched stream 106B leaving the membrane separator 106 contains a total flow equal to about 65.8 kg/s where the CO2 flow constitutes about 65.0 kg/s. The hydrocarbon enriched retentate stream 106A from the membrane separator has a total flow of about 8.0 kg/s with a CO2 content that amounts to about 7.1 kg/s. The gas phase leaving the demister 107 is further treated in the second membrane separator such that the mixed CO2 enriched stream entering into the cooler 109 has a total mass flow of about 70.8 kg/s where the CO2 content constitutes about 69.6 kg/s and the pressure is about 15 bar. The cooler reduces the temperature of the stream to about 50 degree C. The compressor increases the pressure of the gas stream to about 82.4 bar and a temperature equal to about 233 degree C. The stream 110A is passed through the heat exchanger 104 where the temperature is reduced to about 119 degree C and the temperature in the cooler 111 is further reduced to about 30 degree C. Stream 111A has then properties that allow injection of the CO2 enriched gas that provide a high liquid head in the injection well. The total flow of the stream 111A is about 70.8 kg/s where the CO2 flow constitutes about 69.6 kg/s or about 98 weight % of this stream.

In this example, the stream 112A will contain a total flow of fluids equal to 13.7 kg/s where the CO2 content constitutes about 1.1 kg/s. The amount of CO2 separated in the described arrangement of the invention provides in this example more than 98 % removal of the incoming CO2.

In relation to the mixing conditions of the separated fluids, reference is again made to Figure 2. Fluid stream 103A does contain water that is saturated with CO2 at a typical temperature of about 40 degree C. Stream 111A contains the enriched, compressed and cooled CO2 stream and the temperature is typically about 30 degree C. Since these temperatures are above critical temperatures for formation of hydrates as described above, the streams can be mixed without any concerns to hydrate formation and a complex injection template arrangement. Each of the streams or a mixed stream can alternatively be routed to a separate injection well. In an alternative embodiment, should the streams 103A and 111A need to be mixed with externally supplied fluids, their temperatures can be controlled to avoid hydrate formation as described above.

Thus the present invention allows removal of typically more than 95% of the CO2 coming from a well stream resulting from an oil reservoir that is flooded with CO2.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A subsea fluid processing system adapted to receive a wellstream flow (1A,

101A) comprising

a pressure control device (2,112) adapted to regulate the pressure of the wellstream flow (1A, 101A),

a gas-liquid separator unit (4,105) adapted to receive the wellstream flow (1A, 101A) downstream of the pressure control device (2,112) and provide a liquid stream (4A, 105A) and a gas stream (4B, 105B),

a first membrane separator (5,106) adapted to receive the gas stream (4B, 105B) and provide a retentate stream (5B, 106A) and a permeate stream (5A, 106B), a compressor (6,110) adapted to receive the permeate stream (5A, 106B) and provide a compressed permeate stream (6A, 110A), and

a discharge cooler (7, 111) adapted to receive the compressed permeate stream (6A, 110A) and provide a cooled permeate stream (7A, 111A) having a higher density than the compressed permeate stream (6A, 110A), for injection into a subsurface reservoir, and

a heat exchanger (3, 104), whereby the heat exchanger is adapted to transfer heat from the compressed permeate stream (6A,110A) to the wellstream flow (1A, 101A).

2. A subsea fluid processing system according to Claim 1, whereby

the first membrane separator (5,106) is arranged in a membrane unit (116), the membrane unit (116) comprising a second membrane separator (108) arranged in series with the first membrane separator (5,106), and whereby a demister (107) is arranged between the membrane separator (5,116) and the second membrane separator (108).

3. A subsea fluid processing system according to any preceding claim, whereby an inlet cooler (102) and an inlet separator (103) are arranged in the wellstream flow (1A, 101A) upstream of the pressure control device (2,112).

4. A subsea fluid processing system according to any preceding claim, whereby the discharge cooler (7,111) is adapted to provide the cooled permeate stream (7A,111A) to a temperature higher than a pre-set hydrate formation temperature.

5. A subsea fluid processing system according to the preceding claim, wherein the pre-set hydrate formation temperature is below 30 degree C but higher than 20 degree C.

6. A subsea fluid processing system according to any preceding claim, whereby the discharge cooler (7,111) is adapted to cool the permeate stream (7A,111A) to a temperature lower than a dense phase temperature of the permeate stream (7A,111A).

7. A subsea fluid processing system according to the preceding claim, wherein the temperature is 30 degree C.

8. A subsea fluid processing system according to any preceding claim, whereby the discharge cooler (7,111) is configured to be actively controlled to adjust a cooling duty of the discharge cooler (7,111).

9. A subsea fluid processing system according to any preceding claim, wherein the first membrane separator (5,106) and/or the second membrane separator (108) is arranged in a pressure vessel (1020) adapted for subsea use and whereby the pressure vessel (1020) houses a membrane cartridge assembly (1080), made up of a plurality of membrane cartridges, which is part of the first or second membrane separators (5,106,108).

10.A subsea fluid processing system according to any preceding claim, wherein the first membrane separator (5,106) comprises a membrane unit which provide selective passing of CO2 gas therethrough.

11.A subsea fluid processing system according to any preceding claim, wherein the discharge cooler (7, 111) is configured to use ambient seawater as cooling medium.

12.A method of processing a wellstream flow (1A, 101A) comprising

operating a pressure control device (2,112) to regulate the pressure of the wellstream flow (1A, 101A);

receiving the wellstream flow (1A, 101A) in a gas-liquid separator unit (4,105) and operating the gas-liquid separator unit (4,105) to provide a liquid stream (4A, 105A) and a gas stream (4B, 105B);

receiving the gas stream (4B, 105B) in a first membrane separator (5,106) and operating the first membrane separator (5,106) to provide a retentate stream (5B, 106A) and a permeate stream (5A, 106B);

compressing the permeate stream (5A, 106B) in a compressor (6,110) to produce a compressed permeate stream (6A, 110A);

cooling the compressed permeate stream (6A, 110A) in a discharge cooler (7, 111);

injecting the compressed permeate stream (6A, 110A) into a subsurface reservoir, wherein the method is carried out in a subsea environment; and

transferring heat from the compressed permeate stream (6A,110A) to the wellstream flow (1A, 101A).

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the step of cooling the compressed permeate stream (6A, 110A) in a discharge cooler (7, 111) comprises cooling the compressed permeate stream (6A, 110A) to a temperature higher than a pre-set hydrate formation temperature.

14. A method according to the preceding claim, wherein the pre-set hydrate formation temperature is below 30 degrees C but higher than 20 degree C.

15. A method according to any of claims 12-14, wherein the step of cooling the compressed permeate stream (6A, 110A) in a discharge cooler (7, 111) comprises cooling the compressed permeate stream (6A, 110A) to a temperature lower than a dense phase temperature of the permeate stream (7A,111 A).

16. A method according to the preceding claim, wherein the dense phase temperature is 30 degree C.

17. A method according to any of claims 12-16, further comprising:

actively controlling the discharge cooler (7,111 ). to adjust a cooling duty of the discharge cooler (7,111 ).

18. A method according to any of claims 12-17 further comprising:

transferring heat from the discharge cooler (7,111 ) to ambient sea water.

PATENTKRAV

1. Undersjøisk fluidbehandlingssystem tilpasset til å motta en brønnstrømstrømning (1A, 101A) omfattende

en trykkontrollanordning (2, 112) tilpasset til å regulere trykket til brønnstrømstrømningen (1A, 101A),

en gass/væske-separatorenhet (4, 105) tilpasset til å motta brønnstrømstrømningen (1A, 101A) nedstrøms for trykkontrollanordningen (2, 112) og tilveiebringe en væskestrøm (4A, 105A) og en gasstrøm (4B, 105B), en første membranseparator (5, 106) tilpasset til å motta gasstrømmen (4B, 105B) og tilveiebringe en retentatstrøm (5B, 106A) og en permeatstrøm (5A, 106B),

en kompressor (6, 110) tilpasset til å motta permeatstrømmen (5A, 106B) og tilveiebringe en komprimert permeatstrøm (6A, 110A), og

en utløpskjøler (7, 111) tilpasset til å motta den komprimerte permeatstrømmen (6A, 110A) og tilveiebringe en avkjølt permeatstrøm (7A, 111A) som har en høyere tetthet enn den komprimerte permeatstrømmen (6A, 110A), for injeksjon i et underjordisk reservoar, og

en varmeveksler (3, 104), hvorved varmeveksleren tilpasses til å overføre varme fra den komprimerte permeatstrømmen (6A, 110A) til brønnstrømstrømningen (1A, 101A).

2. Undersjøisk fluidbehandlingssystem ifølge krav 1, hvorved

den første membranseparatoren (5, 106) anordnes i en membranenhet (116), membranenheten (116) omfattende en andre membranseparator (108) anordnet i serie med den første membranseparatoren (5, 106), og hvorved en avrimer (107) anordnes mellom membranseparatoren (5, 116) og den andre membranseparatoren (108).

3. Undersjøisk fluidbehandlingssystem ifølge et hvilket som helst foregående krav, hvorved en innløpskjøler (102) og en innløpsseparator (103) anordnes i brønnstrømstrømningen (1A, 101A) oppstrøms for trykkontrollanordningen (2, 112).

4. Undersjøisk fluidbehandlingssystem ifølge et hvilket som helst foregående krav, hvorved utløpskjøleren (7, 111) tilpasses til å tilveiebringe den avkjølte permeatstrømmen (7A, 111A) til en temperatur høyere enn en forhåndsinnstilt hydratdannelsestemperatur.

5. Undersjøisk fluidbehandlingssystem ifølge det foregående kravet, hvori den forhåndsinnstilte hydratdannelsestemperaturen er under 30 grader C, men høyere enn 20 grader C.

6. Undersjøisk fluidbehandlingssystem ifølge et hvilket som helst foregående krav, hvorved utløpskjøleren (7, 111) tilpasses til å avkjøle permeatstrømmen (7A, 111A) til en temperatur lavere enn en tettfasetemperatur for permeatstrømmen (7A, 111A).

7. Undersjøisk fluidbehandlingssystem ifølge det foregående kravet, hvori temperaturen er 30 grader C.

8. Undersjøisk fluidbehandlingssystem ifølge et hvilket som helst foregående krav, hvorved utløpskjøleren (7, 111) konfigureres til å kontrolleres aktivt for å justere en kjøleytelse for utløpskjøleren (7, 111).

9. Undersjøisk fluidbehandlingssystem ifølge et hvilket som helst foregående krav, hvori den første membranseparatoren (5, 106) og/eller den andre membranseparatoren (108) anordnes i en trykkbeholder (1020) tilpasset for undersjøisk bruk og hvorved trykkbeholderen (1020) huser en membranpatronsammenstilling (1080), som består av et mangfold av membranpatroner, som er en del av den første eller den andre membranseparatoren (5, 106, 108).

10. Undersjøisk fluidbehandlingssystem ifølge et hvilket som helst foregående krav, hvori den første membranseparatoren (5, 106) omfatter en membranenhet som tilveiebringer selektiv passasje av CO2-gass derigjennom.

11. Undersjøisk fluidbehandlingssystem ifølge et hvilket som helst foregående krav, hvori utløpskjøleren (7, 111) konfigureres til å bruke omgivende sjøvann som kjølemedium.

12. Fremgangsmåte for å behandle en brønnstrømstrømning (1A, 101A) omfattende å betjene en trykkontrollanordning (2, 112) for å regulere trykket til brønnstrømstrømningen (1A, 101A);

å motta brønnstrømstrømningen (1A, 101A) i en gass/væske-separatorenhet (4, 105) og å betjene gass/væske-separatorenheten (4, 105) for å tilveiebringe en væskestrøm (4A, 105A) og en gasstrøm (4B, 105B);

å motta gasstrømmen (4B, 105B) i en første membranseparator (5, 106) og betjene den første membranseparatoren (5, 106) for å tilveiebringe en retentatstrøm (5B, 106A) og en permeatstrøm (5A, 106B);

å komprimere permeatstrømmen (5A, 106B) i en kompressor (6, 110) for å fremstille en komprimert permeatstrøm (6A, 110A);

å avkjøle den komprimerte permeatstrømmen (6A, 110A) i en utløpskjøler (7, 111);

å injisere den komprimerte permeatstrømmen (6A, 110A) i et underjordisk reservoar, hvori fremgangsmåten utføres i et undersjøisk miljø; og

å overføre varme fra den komprimerte permeatstrømmen (6A, 110A) til brønnstrømstrømningen (1A, 101A).

13. Fremgangsmåte ifølge krav 12, hvori trinnet med å avkjøle den komprimerte permeatstrømmen (6A, 110A) i en utløpskjøler (7, 111) omfatter å avkjøle den komprimerte permeatstrømmen (6A, 110A) til en temperatur høyere enn en forhåndsinnstilt hydratdannelsestemperatur.

14. Fremgangsmåte ifølge det foregående kravet, hvori den forhåndsinnstilte hydratdannelsestemperaturen er under 30 grader C, men høyere enn 20 grader C.

15. Fremgangsmåte ifølge et hvilket som helst av kravene 12‒14, hvori trinnet med å avkjøle den komprimerte permeatstrømmen (6A, 110A) i en utløpskjøler (7, 111) omfatter å avkjøle den komprimerte permeatstrømmen (6A, 110A) til en temperatur lavere enn en tettfasetemperatur til permeatstrømmen (7A, 111A).

16. Fremgangsmåte ifølge det foregående kravet, hvori tettfasetemperaturen er 30 grader C.

17. Fremgangsmåte ifølge et hvilket som helst av kravene 12–16, videre omfattende:

aktiv kontrollering av utløpskjøleren (7, 111) for å justere en kjøleytelse for utløpskjøleren (7, 111).

18. Fremgangsmåte ifølge et hvilket som helst av kravene 12–17, videre omfattende:

å overføre varme fra utløpskjøleren (7, 111) til omgivende sjøvann.

Drawings

Priority

29.12.2014 NO 20141566

Patent classes

IPC classes

E21B 43/40

E21B 43/36

B01D 53/22

C10L 3/10

E21B 33/13

E21B 47/00

CPC classes

E21B 43/40

E21B 43/36

B01D 53/22

C10L 3/101

C10L 3/104

B01D 2256/24

B01D 2257/504

C10L 2290/06

C10L 2290/46

C10L 2290/54

C10L 2290/548

C10L 2290/562

C10L 2290/58

Y02C 10/10

Citations

WO 2013124339 A1 (A1)

DE 102006015088 A1 (A1)

US 20020195251 A1 (A1)

Applicants, owners and inventors

Owners

Aker Carbon Capture Norway AS

Oksenøyveien 8

1366 LYSAKER

NO (BÆRUM Municipality, Akershus county)

Org. number: 925200654

Inventors

Geir Inge Olsen

Brettevilles gate 33

0481 OSLO

NO (OSLO Municipality, Oslo county)

Michael Hilditch

Vøyentoppen 28

1384 ASKER

NO (ASKER Municipality, Akershus county)

Thomas Førde

Hans Heyerdals vei 13

3179 ÅSGÅRDSSTRAND

NO (HORTEN Municipality, Vestfold county)

Pål Helge Nøkleby

Bergveien 19 C

3212 SANDEFJORD

NO (SANDEFJORD Municipality, Vestfold county)

Agent

ZACCO NORWAY AS

Postboks 488

0213 OSLO

NO (OSLO Municipality, Oslo county)

Org. number: 982702887

Reference: P300616NO00

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Payment history

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No oppositions or appeals

Administrative limitation

No administrative limitation

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Only events from 2024.03.04 and onwards are shown.

SUBSEA FLUID PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD