CHAPTER 3:

METHODOLOGY

3.1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Title Selection

Selection of the most appropriate final year project title

Prelim Research

Understanding fundamental theories and concepts, performing a literature review, tools identification

Detailed Research
Further elevation effect research, acquisition of data, procedures and learn how to operate the
software PIPESIMTM.

Experimental Work

Conduct experiment & simulation and collect results

Analysis of Results

Analyse the result from the simulation software and determined if it is the suitable method.

Discussion of Analysis
Discuss the findings from the results obtained and make a conclusion out of the study, determine if
the objective has been met

Report Writing
Compilation of all research findings, literature reviews, experimental works and outcomes into a final
report

Figure 8: Research Methodology

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3.2 GANTT CHART

Final Year Project I (FYP-1) Final Year Project II (FYP-2)

Activities
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Study on pipeline
and configuration
Study on suitable software or
simulation for pipeline and
elevation effect
Data collection and
assumption
Evaluation of data in
software and simulation
Finalize the elevation effect
Data collection and
interpretation
Comparison against oil
pipeline, multiphase pipeline
Final Year Project I (FYP-1) Final Year Project II (FYP-2)
Milestone
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Completion of study in
elevation effect
Completion of study in
simulation or software
Evaluation of data in
software and simulation
Comparison against the oil
pipeline , multiphase
pipeline

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3.3 TOOLS: PIPESIM™ NODAL ANALYSIS SOFTWARE

In Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, simulation software available in Block 15

regarding pipeline and facilities is PIPESIM™ by Schlumberger. Based on
Schlumberger information and review, PIPESIM™ is a comprehensive multiphase
flow model with “System Analysis” capabilities. Typical applications of module
include:

 multiphase flow in flowlines and pipelines

 point by point generation of pressure and temperature profiles
 calculation of heat transfer coefficients
 flowline and equipment performance modeling (system analysis)

In facilities modeling, PIPESIM™ can also be used to design systems by varying

key system parameters, thus enabling optimal pipeline and equipment sizes to be
determined. PIPESIM™ use algorithm concept in solving problem. PIPESIM™ was
chosen because the experimental work will expect to have large percentage of error
in comparing pressure drop difference between single phase and multiphase. Plus,
the limitation of lab equipment to model long distance pipeline is another barrier for
the author.

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 CHAPTER 4:
RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Simple pipeline system was used to model the effect of elevation to the pressure drop
without involving compressor or pump with different elevation to the different type
of pipeline, gas pipeline, oil pipeline and multiphase pipeline. Experimental data was
used for the composition of oil in the pipeline and gas in the pipeline. For multiphase
flow, it was assumed that the flow rate is in stb/day and Gas Oil Ratio (GOR) is 565
scf/stb. The details for the simple pipeline model are:

Distance of the pipeline: 50 miles

Elevation: -1300 feet, 0 feet (no elevation), +1300 feet

Figure 9 : Simple pipeline schematic

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4.1 SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

Sensitivity analysis is the study of how the uncertainty in the output of a model. For
example, pipeline ID can be apportioned to different sources of uncertainty in the
model input, pressure drop in this case. A related practice is uncertainty analysis
which focuses rather on quantifying uncertainty in model output. Ideally, uncertainty
and sensitivity analysis should be run in tandem. Constant value of pipeline ID
cannot be used before making the comparison of pressure drop due to elevation
among three types of flow because the pressure drop of the fluids through the
pipeline is different when the parameters such as pipeline ID changes. When the
pipeline size decreases, there will be more pressure drop because of the more friction
between the fluids and pipeline wall. This sensitivity analysis is to demolish this
effect by setting allowable percentage of pressure drop by each parameter for each
case.

To select the best pipeline parameters for each case, sensitivity analysis is modeled
using PIPESIM™. The parameter that needs to be evaluated is pipeline ID for each
types of flow. Sensitivity analysis is important so that the parameter will not affect
the pressure drop too much. Hence, allowable percentage of pressure drop by
pipeline ID parameter is set to be less than 5% for each type of flow and this
sensitivity analysis is tested at 0 feet of elevation.

To evaluate the effect of elevation to pressure drop, the effect of friction on pressure
drop is set within certain since these two components are major factors of pressure
drop in oil and gas pipeline. To demolish the effect of friction so that only effect of
elevation alone on pressure drops can be measured, friction effect is set within range
by setting the value for each 0.5 miles of pipeline, the range of pressure drop due to
friction is between 0.62 psi to 0.66 psi tested at 0 feet of elevation.

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4.1.1 Sensitivity analysis for pipeline ID (single phase black oil)

Figure 10: Single phase black oil pipeline ID sensitivity analysis

Based on this sensitivity analysis graph and data table on the next page, the
author selected the pipeline ID 12 inches for single phase black oil where the
pressure drop is 4.266% which is less than 5% allowable pressure drop cause
by pipeline ID.

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 Total Total Total
Distance Pressure Distance Pressure Distance Pressure
(miles) (psia) (miles) (psia) (miles) (psia)
IDIAMETER= IDIAMETER= IDIAMETER= IDIAMETER= IDIAMETER= IDIAMETER=
12 ins 12 ins 12 ins 12 ins 12 ins 12 ins
0 1500.009 16.5 1479.029 33.5 1457.399
0 1500.009 17 1478.389 34 1456.759
0.5 1499.369 17.5 1477.759 34.5 1456.129
1 1498.739 18 1477.119 35 1455.489
1.5 1498.099 18.5 1476.489 35.5 1454.849
2 1497.469 19 1475.849 36 1454.219
2.5 1496.829 19.5 1475.209 36.5 1453.579
3 1496.199 20 1474.579 37 1452.949
3.5 1495.559 20.5 1473.939 37.5 1452.309
4 1494.919 21 1473.299 38 1451.669
4.5 1494.289 21.5 1472.669 38.5 1451.039
5 1493.649 22 1472.029 39 1450.399
5.5 1493.019 22.5 1471.399 39.5 1449.759
6 1492.379 23 1470.759 40 1449.129
6.5 1491.749 23.5 1470.119 40.5 1448.489
7 1491.109 24 1469.489 41 1447.859
7.5 1490.469 24.5 1468.849 41.5 1447.219
8 1489.839 25 1468.209 42 1446.579
8.5 1489.199 25.5 1467.579 42.5 1445.949
9 1488.569 26 1466.939 43 1445.309
9.5 1487.929 26.5 1466.309 43.5 1444.669
10 1487.299 27 1465.669 44 1444.039
10.5 1486.659 27.5 1465.029 44.5 1443.399
11 1486.019 28 1464.399 45 1442.769
11.5 1485.389 28.5 1463.759 45.5 1442.129
12 1484.749 29 1463.129 46 1441.489
12.5 1484.119 29.5 1462.489 46.5 1440.859
13 1483.479 30 1461.849 47 1440.219
13.5 1482.839 30.5 1461.219 47.5 1439.579
14 1482.209 31 1460.579 48 1438.949
14.5 1481.569 31.5 1459.939 48.5 1438.309
15 1480.939 32 1459.309 49 1437.679
15.5 1480.299 32.5 1458.669 49.5 1437.039
16 1479.669 33 1458.039 50 1436.399

Table 1: Sensitivity analysis table on 12 inch pipeline

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4.1.2 Sensitivity analysis for pipeline ID (single phase gas)

Based on sensitivity analysis graph on APPENDIX 1 and data table on

APPENDIX 2, the author selected pipeline ID 9 inches for single phase gas
where the pressure drop is 2.56% which is less than 5% allowable pressure
drop cause by pipeline ID.

4.1.3 Sensitivity analysis for pipeline ID (multiphase flow)

Based on sensitivity graph on APPENDIX 3 and data table on APPENDIX

4, the author selected pipeline ID 12 inches for multiphase flow where the
pressure drop is 1.806% which is less than 5% allowable pressure drop cause
by pipeline ID.

After conducting the sensitivity analysis for pipeline ID and select the best
pipeline ID for each types of flow, it was found that the pressure drop due to
friction is between 0.62 psi to 0.65 psi per 0.5 miles which is a good result to
separate the pressure drop due to friction effect and the pressure drop due the
elevation effect since the highest difference of friction value among these
three types of flow is approximately only at 4.6 %. The elevation is then
varied between 0 feet of elevation (no elevation), +1300 feet of elevation and
-1300ft to each single phase black oil flow, single phase gas flow and
multiphase flow before calculating the pressure drop change only due to
elevation effect.

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4.2 REGULATING THE FRICTION FACTOR

4.2.1 Single phase black oil

Friction factor is 0.63 is between the range. Refer APPENDIX 5.

4.2.2 Single phase gas

Friction factor is 0.62-0.63 is between the ranges. Refer APPENDIX 6.

4.2.3 Multiphase flow

Friction factor is 0.63-0.64 is between the ranges. Refer APPENDIX 7.

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At 0 feet elevation

Figure 11: PIPESIM™ schematic for 0 feet of elevation

At +1300feet of elevation

Figure 12: PIPESIM™ schematic for +1300 feet of elevation

At -1300feet of elevation

Figure 13: PIPESIM™ schematic for -1300 feet of elevation

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4.3 RESULT

Based on APPENDIX 8 to APPENDIX 16, the result of calculation on percentage of pressure drop due to elevation can be
summarized in table below.

Table 2 : Percentage change due to elevation at different types of flow

Total Total Pressure Percentage

Pressure Pressure
Elevation APPENDIX pressure percentage change due change due
Type of flow at start at end
(feet) change change (%) to elevation to elevation
(psi) (psi)
(psi) (psi) (%)
0 8 1500 1436.4 -63.6 4.24% 0 0%
Single phase
+1300 11 1500 1103.9 -396.1 26.4% 348.644 -23.24%
black oil
-1300 14 1500 1771.9 +271.9 18.12% 301.4 +20.09%
0 9 2500 2436.8 -63.2 2.528% 0 0%
Single phase
+1300 12 2500 2331.8 -168.2 6.728% 104.33 -4.17%
gas
-1300 15 2500 2543.9 +43.9 1.756% 106.6 +4.264%
0 10 3600 3536.2 -63.8 1.77% 0 0%
Multiphase +1300 13 3600 3055 -545 15.13% 479.63 -13.32%
-1300 16 3600 3925 +325 9.027% 400.4 +11.12%

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