Public Funding for Hydrafact Limited

The energy and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) sectors are encountering a challenge concerning flow assurance attributable to hydrate deposition within pipelines, wherein hydrate formation frequently occurs at inaccessible sites. Beyond mere obstruction, one of the key issues involves the displacement of hydrate plugs within pipelines at high velocities, posing a potential rupture risk. Any obstruction within a transportation pipeline due to hydrate formation represents a grave threat to both economic viability and operational safety. Traditionally, mitigating hydrate-related risks in transfer lines and process facilities involves eliminating one of the factors conducive to hydrate formation. For instance, methods such as thermal insulation and external heating are employed to address the low-temperature aspect. Water removal can be achieved through stream dehydration using glycol systems, while lowering operating pressures can diminish the likelihood of hydrate formation within production, carbon capture, and transportation systems. However, the applicability of these conventional techniques may be limited, particularly in offshore and deepwater settings, due to spatial constraints and the associated high costs of insulation, heating, and capital investment. Presently, the prevalent industry approach involves the utilisation of various chemical or hydrate inhibitors to counteract this flow assurance impediment. Nevertheless, the substantial dosage requirements of these inhibitors can lead to significant escalations in operational expenses, particularly in scenarios characterized by high water concentrations within the system, along with logistical and environmental challenges. Therefore, enhanced insights into monitoring of the concentration of inhibitors and chemicals in the field for hydrate mitigation empower energy operators to effectively manage the concentrations of the chemicals they used, cut the operation costs, and ultimately optimising CO2 transportation, storage, and gas production operations. This innovative project's objective is to pioneer the development of the world's first ultrafast and smart online hydrate inhibitors monitoring technology. Simultaneously, it aims to create an intelligent technology for optimisation of the hydrate inhibitors in the field and saving £billions per year. This novel technology serves not only hydrocarbon production applications for maximising the economic recovery but also for CCUS applications to reach net-zero targets, both in the UK and globally.

A prominent challenge in the Flow Assurance discipline of the energy industry revolves around preventing the formation of hydrate plugs during gas production and transportation, and CO2 clathrate hydrates for the Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) sector. Traditional methods have focused on avoiding the thermodynamic zone conducive to gas hydrate formation, employing techniques such as thermal insulation, heating, extensive thermodynamic inhibitor injection, and effluent dehydration. While effective, these approaches are becoming costlier, especially in harsher offshore environments, and do not always ensure a direct correlation between hydrate crystal formation and plug occurrence. An emerging trend in CCUS technology involves the transportation of impure CO2 within the hydrate pressure and temperature (P&T) zone, requiring careful considerations. To adopt this transportation mode, the development of innovative monitoring instruments is crucial to provide precise information on hydrate plugging risks during transportation within the hydrate P&T zone. Enhanced insights into hydrate formation dynamics empower energy operators to effectively manage and mitigate risks, optimising CO2 transportation, storage, and gas production operations. This ground-breaking project's objective is to pioneer the development of the world's first ultrafast and intelligent online hydrate initial formation monitoring tool. Simultaneously, it aims to create smart technology for detecting early signs of hydrate formation. This innovation serves not only hydrocarbon production applications for maximising economic recovery but also CCUS applications to meet net-zero targets, both in the UK and worldwide.

The significance of North Sea gas production and Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) cannot be overstated, as they play critical roles in the UK's economic landscape and are integral components of the newly established British Energy Security Strategy. This strategic initiative is designed to foster energy independence while concurrently promoting low emissions. Both the gas production sector and the CCUS/decarbonisation sectors grapple with a common challenge---the necessity for precise flow assurance monitoring systems during the transportation of reactive fluids within the UK's complex gas networks. Of particular concern in these systems is the potential for water condensation, a phenomenon that poses a substantial risk by triggering pipeline corrosion and clathrate hydrate formation, ultimately leading to disruptive pipeline blockages. The financial ramifications of these issues are considerable, amounting to an estimated £20 billion annually, coupled with an associated increase in emissions. Responding to this critical challenge, Hydrafact has pioneered an innovative sensor-based technology. This cutting-edge solution employs a dual temperature control resonance frequency monitoring system, enabling the real-time detection of water condensation and clathrate hydrate formation within pipelines. In the framework of this A4I project, Hydrafact is poised to conduct a comprehensive experimental program utilising their ground-breaking ThermoQuartz ResoSense technology. The primary objectives include testing its applicability to CCUS systems, refining its accuracy, and enhancing the reliability of thermodynamic models and equations of state (EoSs) across various scenarios, including impure CO2 streams in the presence of water for CCUS applications. This project not only addresses a critical industry need but also positions Hydrafact at the forefront of innovation within the evolving energy transition market, both in the UK and globally. It marks a significant stride toward advancing the reliability and efficiency of flow assurance monitoring systems, contributing to the resilience and sustainability of the broader energy infrastructure.

Awaiting Public Project Summary

Awaiting Public Project Summary

To deliver a better and faster version of HydraFLASH?, a thermodynamics predictive software by developing new code, replacing sub-optimal methodologies and enabling parallel computing functionality.