Comparison of Model-Based Control Solutions for Severe Riser-Induced Slugs

Simon Pedersen, Esmaeil Jahanshahi, Zhenyu Yang and Sigurd Skogestad
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Simon Pedersen: Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Esbjerg DK-6700, Denmark
Esmaeil Jahanshahi: Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim NO-7491, Norway
Zhenyu Yang: Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Esbjerg DK-6700, Denmark
Sigurd Skogestad: Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim NO-7491, Norway

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: Control solutions for eliminating severe riser-induced slugs in offshore oil & gas pipeline installations are key topics in offshore Exploration and Production (E&P) processes. This study describes the identification, analysis and control of a low-dimensional control-oriented model of a lab-scaled slug testing facility. The model is analyzed and used for anti-slug control development for both lowpoint and topside transmitter solutions. For the controlled variables’ comparison it is concluded that the topside pressure transmitter ( P t ) is the most difficult output to apply directly for anti-slug control due to the inverse response. However, as P t often is the only accessible measurement on offshore platforms this study focuses on the controller development for both P t and the lowpoint pressure transmitter ( P b ). All the control solutions are based on linear control schemes and the performance of the controllers are evaluated from simulations with both the non-linear MATLAB and OLGA models. Furthermore, the controllers are studied with input disturbances and parametric variations to evaluate their robustness. For both pressure transmitters the H ? loop-shaping controller gives the best performance as it is relatively robust to disturbances and has a fast convergence rate. However, P t does not increase the closed-loop bifurcation point significantly and is also sensitive to disturbances. Thus the study concludes that the best option for single-input-single-output (SISO) systems is to control P b with a H ? loop-shaping controller. It is suggested that for cases where only topside transmitters are available a cascaded combination of the outlet mass flow and P t could be considered to improve the performance.

Keywords: offshore; oil & gas; multi-phase flow; bifurcation; anti-slug; riser slug; flow control; stabilization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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