LedaFlow model accuracy improvements required for tighter design to help lower project development and operations costs

nderstanding of multiphase flow behaviour in long distance multiphase flow transport pipelines has been regarded as a key element for development of new oil and gas discoveries. Especially development in deep waters and in arctic areas is more complex due to technical and environmental challenges. In order to design and operate such systems under much lower oil price today, more accurate predictions of multiphase flow in wells and pipelines are crucial. With its unique features, Kongsberg?s software suite can give more detailed information about the multiphase flow behaviour, enabling the operators to significantly reduce operational risk and enable development of new and cost efficient production system designs. The project?s primary objective is to identify improvement areas in the existing software and undertake research and development activities to address them. Thus bringing the software accuracy one level up. Improvements that have been identified include thermal modelling across chokes and model predictions of long slug formation in long tie-backs. The first will help optimize piping design as well as reduce hydrate inhibition chemicals, while the second will will help in optimizing slug catcher design. A framework in LedaFlow with improvements for Emulsions and foams will be addressed. The main objective of this work is to lay the foundation for making LedaFlow capable of handling flows with partially stabilized dispersions, facilitating modelling of temporal and spatial evolution of emulsions. Successful piloting and validation of the new models and functionalities is crucial to properly secure confidence in the results these models predict. Therefore, this project will also include pilot studies to confirm the applicability, accuracy, robustness, and user-friendliness of LedaFlow® with the new functionalities. The project has two main partners: SINTEF and Kongsberg, but is also backed by various operating companies in the oil and gas industry from validation and user perspective.

Agreed that project results are not to be published