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Problem:
A slug catcher for a new offshore gas processing facility is to be sized. Gas from a
subsea well cluster will be transported to the platform in a common flow line. No pigging
facilities will be required for the flow line. A horizontal pressure vessel will be used as
both the slug catcher and the primary separator. The gas from the separator will go
to a gas dehydration system. The following information is based on preliminary well tests:
The slug flow rate is calculated based on the pipeline simulation results:
Slug Flow Rate = Slug Volume/Slug Duration
The flow rate from the slug catcher is assumed to be equal = to the normal
72,000.00 BPD
condensate
flow rate of 2,000 bbl/day. Therefore,
Slug Surge Volume = 48.61 Bbl
Since this is so close to the expected slug volume, it was decided to use 50 bbls as the
slug surge volume.
50 Bbl
Step 2 - Calculate the liquid capacity
Three minute retention time was thought to be adequate for gas/liquid separation. An
additional two minutes of retention time will be allowed for high level response time.
Therefore,
= 6.94 Bbl
The liquid and gas densities must be converted to the appropriate units:
Liquid Density, lb/ft3 = 62.4 lb/ft3 x 141.5/(API + 131.5)
= 49.74422535 lb/ft3
Gas Density, lb/ft3 = Gas Molecular Weight x Operating Psia/(10.73 x Operating °R x Z)
= 2.49 lb/ft3
Based on the guidelines presented in Section 7.9, a K value of 0.35 is selected
Vm 1.53 ft/s
Step 5 - Calculate the minimum gas cross-sectional area
The minimum gas cross-sectional area is calculated from the maximum allowable gas velocity
calculated in Step 4 and the gas flow rate. The gas flow rate is the design volumetric flow rate at actual
operating pressure and temperature:
Actual Gas Flow Rate = Standard Gas Flow Rate x (14.7 psia/Actual Psia) x
(Actual °R/520 °R) x Z
= 34.64 ft3/s
The minimum gas cross-sectional area can now be calculated:
Minimum Gas Cross-sectional Area = Gas Flow Rate/Maximum Allowable Gas Velocity
= 23 ft2
Step 6 - Estimate the minimum vessel internal diameter based on gas capacity
The minimum internal diameter based on gas capacity is calculated from the minimum gas cross-
sectional area calculated in Step 5:
where F is the assumed fraction of cross-sectional area occupied by the vapor space. An initial F value
of 0.30 is assumed:
Minimum Internal Diameter = 6.43 ft
Step 7 - Estimate the minimum vessel internal diameter based on liquid capacity
The minimum internal diameter based on liquid capacity is calculated from the total required liquid
volume calculated in Step 3 and the vapor space cross-sectional area fraction assumed in Step 6:
An initial L/D ratio of 5 was assumed:
L/D 5
Minimum Internal Diameter 6.47 ft
6.50
Step 8 - Determine minimum vessel internal diameter which satisfies both gas and liquid capacity
criteria
For each L/D ratio considered, Steps 6 and 7 are repeated in an iterative procedure in which the value
of F is adjusted until the internal diameters are equal. For this example, it has been determined that an
F of approximately 0.7 results in a diameter that satisfies both the gas and liquid capacity criteria:
For this example, different values of a are guessed until the calculated volume Vc equals the total liquid
volume of 319 ft3 from Step 3. It has been determined that an angle of 71.8 degrees will result in the
required liquid volume:
α 71.00 o
H 2.19 ft
Vc = 319.70 ft3
Step 11 - Review design feasibility
The results should be evaluated to ensure that any design criteria are satisfied. The guidelines
presented in Sections 6.4 and 6.6 can be used to establish appropriate liquid levels and dimensions. A
sketch such as the one illustrated in Figure 11:6-1 is typically prepared to assist in determining vessel
dimensions. Other L/D ratios should be tried. Adjustments in diameter and length should be made as
appropriate. The calculations are summarized on the following pages.
a
pigging
d as
go
ell tests:
ration)
g Duration
sate
as the
. An
me.
ow Rate x
+ Level Response
capacity
nits for the slug catcher diameter and
g the
e gas velocity
etric flow rate at actual
d the corresponding