Managing Flow Assurance Uncertainty Through Stochastic Methods and Life of Field Multiphase Simulation

Multiphase simulators are used widely by flow assurance engineers but the inputs to the simulator are often thought of as apparent certainty whereas, more accurately, they represent unquantified uncertainty. This paper shows how stochastic methods combined with life of field multiphase simulation can be applied to the design and operation of surface facilities, leading to more appropriate and economic systems. In particular, case studies of three marginal projects are presented, namely: handling reservoir uncertainty for a multiple oil well production system, Mono Ethylene Glycol optimisation of a large wet gas network and hydrate management of a new oil well tieback to an existing facility