Chokeseparator - Single Well Production.

Typhonix has, through many years of testing in both laboratory scale, full scale and on real fields, demonstrated how turbulence and shear forces in chokes and pumps dramatically reduce separation efficiency of downstream separators. Experimental work has demonstrated that petroleum fluids which separate within seconds upstream from a choke valve never reach the same ability to separate downstream the valve. With the knowledge developed in the fields of petroleum flow control and separation, Typhonix introduces the Chokeseparator as a technology combining flow control and separation on individual subsea wells. The Chokeseparator may take various forms and shapes, but the basic idea and the difference from conventional solutions, is that the objectives of reaching separated, clean petroleum phases can be met with significantly less technical and chemical efforts, and at significantly lower cost and energy consumption. By changing the traditional production and processing philosophy, the Chokeseparator facilitates an individual handling of one or every well of a subsea development. In the Chokeseparator, choking and separation is Yin and Yang, two apparently opposite processes which are combined to act complementary, dramatically reducing the processing challenges compared to traditional subsea production systems. In the Chokeseparator, choking is an integrated part of the separation process. Large benefits are gained and the time needed to achieve high quality products; oil, water and gas, is dramatically reduced. The objective of the R&D project is to develop, verify and test the technology.The final tests should be concluded as scaled-up and near field realistic in a controlled laboratory environment. The technology has been verified through realistic testing in a 3 phase test-rig under realistic test conditions. The main conclusions from the prototype test are: -Separator sizes of today might be reduced by 50 % by volume. -Separation is radically improved (70-90% reduction of oil in water and 50-60% reduction of water in oil).

The technology reached TRL3, based on the original concept and design of the Chokeseparator. However, due to feedback from oil companies after the prototype test, the Chokeseparator design will be modified. This change in the concept design will lead to changes and modifications in the total design of the Chokeseparator, which will need to be verified and tested in order to firmly reach TRL 3. The project group has stated that the existing concept of the Chokeseparator is currently on TRL2, until the new design has been verified through testing.TRL3 will be reached early in the next development phase. The Chokeseparator can enable: -More compact separation systems -Reduce the cost of future field developments, both tie-backs and greenfield developments. -Improve separation and reduce OiW and WiO on existing facilities. -Increase production capacity on existing facilities. -Simplify or minimize downstream treatment of oil and water on new or existing facilities.

The Single Well Production concept comprises a wellhead Chokeseparator which is a Yin and Yang, choking and separation, two apparently opposite processes which are combined to act complementary, dramatically reducing the processing challenges compared to traditional subsea production/separation systems. The Chokeseparator is a core element of the Single Well Production concept. It may take various forms and shapes, but the basic difference from conventional solutions, is that the objectives of reaching separated, clean petroleum phases can be met with significantly less technical and chemical efforts, and at a significantly lower cost and energy consumption. Subsea separation systems of today typically adapt the architecture of traditional topside production systems, where individual wells are controlled, commingled and directed to a common separation system. Choke valves are used to control flow rates and pressure. Choking transforms pressure energy into high fluid velocity and turbulence, which exposes the well fluids to large shear forces. The result is heavy mixing of the fluid phases, emulsification and foaming, dramatically decreased downstream separation efficiency and poor quality of the effluent phases; oil, water and gas. The negative effect of choking is counteracted by application of large separators and chemicals, which again leads to higher capex, operating cost and energy consumption in addition to environmental challenges. Typhonix solution to the problems created by choking today is to remove the cause of the mixing, emulsification and foaming, and the capex and operating cost related to separation and production will be dramatically reduced. To combine the choke and separator in one unit by experimental methods and CFD simulations, integrate a control system and to verify the performance of a Chokeseparator are critical scientific objectives in this project.