Wellhead manifold and Treatment Line

Flow Lines and Collection Networks

The flow line is a term used to denote the underground pipelines that connect the well manifolds and arrival manifolds Oil Centre. The thickness and diameter of the flow lines are determined by the expected operating conditions (distance from the oil centre, flow rate, pressure, temperature, G.O.R. (Gas, Oil, Ratio), crude oil, viscosity). The set of pipelines and accessories for transporting the fluid from the wells to the oil centre is called the collection network. There are several structures as per the list below:

• Individual Connection Design:  Where each well is individually connected to manifold inlet valves.
• Branch structure with collector:  where the individual flow lines connect into a single collector of adequate capacity.
• Integrated structure:  where several deposits are connected to a shipping centre (where a first treatment can also take place) and then a secondary structure connects the shipping centres to a treatment centre.

Production Manifold (Wells Connection)

The well arrival manifold is the arrival point of the various flow lines which transport the fluid from the wells to the collection centre. Through this installation, the fluid is conveyed to the various manifolds with the direction of the treatment plants to the test separator, or to the torch, (in case it is necessary to depress the line). The manifold, as seen in Fig.7, consists of an integral derivation with the flow line which is connected it a pressure gauge, a thermometer, a check valve and one or more shut-off ball valves for fluid cutoff in different manifolds.

Figure 7 - Production Manifold (Wells Connection)

Figure 7A - Production Manifold (Wells Connection)

PIG launcher and receiver

Generally for flow lines that transport the crude oil, periodic internal cleaning and checks are required. These operations are carried out with tools called PIGs. Exist with various shapes and characteristics. There are pigs for internal cleaning of the pipeline, (see Fig.8) equipped with scraper brushes or soluble cleaning pigs with self-destruct, which leave residues to avoid the deposit of paraffin substances.

Pipes are checked with special pigs equipped with magnetic sensors capable of locating and recording any thickness variations due to corrosion or damage pipeline itself (see Fig.9). For the insertion and extraction of pigs, equipment called launch and reception traps are used (see Fig.10 and Fig.11). Fig.12 shows the typical installation diagram of the PIG launch and reception chambers.

 Figure 8 - Pig

Figure 8A - Pig

 Figure 9 - Magnetic detector Pig in Curve

Figure 10 -Pigs launch station

Figure 10A - Pigs launch station

 Figure 11 - Pigs receiver station

Figure 12 - Typical diagram of Pigs launch and receiving chambers installation

1. Launch Chamber
2. Special Tees
3. Indication Pigs departure
4. Pigs arrival Signal
5. Receiver room