Choke Manifold ‘The choke manifold (Fig. 27 and Table 16) controls the fluid from the well by reducing the flow- ing pressure and achieving a constant flow rate before the fuid enters the processing equipment on the surface. When a well is being tested, critical flow (at which the downstream pressure is approximately one-half of the upstream pressure) must be achieved across the choke. At critical flow, changes in pressure and flow rate made downstream from the choke do not affect the dawn- hole pressure and flow rate. Figure 27. Choke marifld Table 16. Choke Manifold Specifications FM FMF-BF FUG FFD (bypass) Senice HS HS HS 1 HS Woring pressire OOS) SOOTHE] ‘ORO Ra) —OMNNRAKT OND TONST (psilbarh Temperanure FC 40290-7010 11] ta 300 70t0 60] (Din om) 20(8t1 3081) 3061] 30/61] int in, F in OOF Sin 152F __APIOBK Out in 102M in 150M in 102M APLEBX Footprint fl 12.02 82-68 eax12 82.68 bavi 384211 (e870 baat) eight Tn saps) aath02) sath) ait Weight im [hgh S785) 070 [smn #180 100 smn 306) 5060 (SO) ‘Well Testing Services m Choke Manito‘The choke manifold consists of valves and fittings arranged to direct the flow through one of two choke boxes. One box is configured as a variable choke, and the other as a fixed choke (Fig. 28). The fixed choke box is set by screwing in a calibrated choke bean. The bean sizes are usually in graduations of Yt in. (0.4 mm] to produce a flow rate that can be specified at the end ofa test. The fixed choke can be changed during operation when the flow is directed through the variable choke box. The variable choke isa variable geometry oifice that is easily changed with- cout isolating the choke box. If the choke size and upstream pressure under critical flow conditions are known, the flow rates during cleanup can be estimated. Operation The well is opened to flow on a variable choke. The choke size is increased until the specified flowing wellhead pressure is attained. The choke bean size that corresponds to the barrel read ing on the variable choke at the flowing wellhead pressure is then installed in the fixed choke box, and flow is diverted through the fixed choke at the specified rate Front Viow uid inlet Site View Fiuid outlet Ton View Fuid outlet Tt 1 ae UP oe on Cs * Variable choke Fu inlet Fixed choke Figure 28. Three views oft choke maritld 5h SchlumbergerHeat Exchanger Heat exchangers, commonly called heaters, raise the temperature of well effluents, which pre- vents hydrate formation, reduces viscosity and breaks down emulsions to facilitate the separation of oil and water. Heater types and applications Heaters are used in almost all aspects of petroleum production and processing. They vary in size and complexity from a simple hot-water bath to a sophisticated cracking furnace in a refiner. Heaters are generally classified as direct or indirect fied. Ina direct-fired heater, the fluid being heated flows through tubes that are surrounded by a firebox and are in direct contact with the heat source. A domestic boiler is an example of a direct fired heater. There are limitations to the use of direct fired heaters in the oil industry. In an indirect fired heater, the well fluid being heated flows through tubes that are sur rounded by water in a vessel. The heat source heats the water via a firebox. Hydrate prevention Natural gas contains water vapor. Under certain choked flow conditions, sufficient expansion occurs to lower the temperature of the flow and cause hydrate formation, which is when parti- cles of water and some light hydrocarbons in the natural gas become solid. Hydrate formation is a serious problem; if particles freeze in the surface equipment, the valves and flowmeters become inoperative and chokes are blocked. Natural gas hydrates resemble granular snow. These chemical compounds of hydrocarbons and water form at temperatures above the normal freezing point of water when certain hydro- carbons are dissolved in water under low-temperature and high-pressure conditions. High velocity, pressure pulsation and agitation accelerate the phenomenon, as do certain gases, par- ticularly HS and CO,. A heater is used to help maintain the temperature above the point at Which hydrates can form, Viscosity reduction High viscosity impairs the flow of an effluent through a pipe. Iti usually not a problem in well testing. However, the combined effects of changes in composition as the reservoir fluid is brought to the surface ambient temperature may raise the viscosity and affect testing efficiency. Because viscosity is temperature dependent, a heater can be used to lower the viscosity and prevent high- viscosity problems. Emulsion breakdown With the inevitable production of water from a reservoir, it is necessary to separate oil from ‘water. Under certain conditions, the oil and water emulsify and do not separate unless chemicals are injected or the effluent temperature is raised with a heater. ‘Well Testing Services m Heat Exchanger %