Potency of starch in hydrate inhibition in a field within Gulf of Guinea Using Aspen Hysys

Hydrocarbon industry is now moving from onshore to offshore environments in search of black gold, since the world’s energy demand is growing astronomically. Exploitation of this black gold in an offshore environment is quite very capital intensive but not exonerated from flow assurance and intervention challenges. This is due to the fact that the black gold is produced alongside with BSW, associated gas, without which the black gold will be termed dead oil; also, there is restricted accessibility in an offshore environment. The result of hydrate formation includes blockage of flow lines, plaguing downstream equipment and flow line’s appurtenances such as Valves, Tees, Elbows. The current methods of preventing hydrate formation by the industry are highly limited and the chemicals used are harsh to the ecosystem. This study investigated the potency of Starch from Manihot Esculenta in hydrate inhibition using Aspen Hysys V11.0. The performances of considered hydrate inhibitors in a modeled flow line system with diameter355.6mm, length of 12.095 km in deep water hydrocarbon field within the Gulf of Guinea, were based on actual condition and production data. The simulation results at 40% and 80% water cuts were plotted for both steady state and dynamic state using Mat lab. At steady state, simulation results disclosed that there will be no hydrate formation. However, at dynamic state, simulation results disclosed that hydrates will form. HCF’s pressure declines from 61bar to 40.52bar, 32.43bar respectively, for the different water cuts, in induction time of 240 minutes. Likewise, HCF’s temperature declined suddenly and sharply rose again indicating hydrate formations. Starch at 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 mole fractions prevented hydrates from forming but best at 0.2 mole fractions. Starch was therefore, recommended for field-pilot test and further developed, utilized as an ecofriendly hydrate inhibitor.