DEGASSING PROCESS

Ideal solution and gas

yi : vapour mole fraction xi : liquid mole fraction

Vgas Vliq

p : total pressure T : temperature zi : mixture composition zi = xi + yi

Liquid/vapour mixture at equilibrium equilibrium ratios depend on pressure, temperature and mixture composition effect of mixture composition decreases with pressure Ideal gas (Dalton law)

yi = K i xi

yi = pi / p
pi = pi0 xi

Ideal solution (Raoult law)

Equilibrium ratio for ideal gas and ideal solution

pi0 Ki = p

Hydrocarbons in mud - Generalities

Mud systems are very complex Difficulty to build a precise model Empirical approach is preferred Hydrocarbons present in the mud are expected to be either : Dissolved, in water (low quantity) or oil mud base Adsorbed on the solids contained in the mud Free phase, gas bubbles or liquid droplets (mainly when mud is saturated) Gas measurements Measures related to gas in air Equilibrium between gas measured and gas remaining in mud

Gas in mud - generalities

air air + gas

mud from flowline mud to pits

Gas measured are light components of the hydrocarbons contained in the mud Partly extracted (equilibrium) Mixed in a flow of air (volumetric effect) Extraction under dynamic conditions (kinetics effect)

Real mud/hydrocarbon system : material exchange

liquid composition V' : air + gas volume V : mud volume Q' : air + gas flow rate Q : mud volume

xi

V' V

Initial condition

Q' V ' = Q V

xi,0

xi

Liquid to gas transfer

xi = xi , 0 y i V '
yi

yi
gas composition

Real mud/hydrocarbon system : equilibrium limit

liquid composition V' : air + gas volume V : mud volume Q' : air + gas flow rate Q : mud volume
Equilibrium Equilibrium law y i = K i * xi xi,min
Liquid to gas transfer

xi

V' V

Initial condition

Q' V ' = Q V

xi,0

xi = xi , 0 y i V '
yi,max

yi
gas composition

Real mud/hydrocarbon system : volumetric effect

liquid composition V' : air + gas volume V : mud volume Q' : air + gas flow rate Q : mud volume

xi

V' V

Q' V ' = Q V

xi,0

V' / V

Equilibrium law y i = K i * xi
Liquid to gas transfer

xi,min x'i,min

xi = xi , 0 y i V '
y'i,max yi,max

yi
gas composition

Real mud/hydrocarbon system : kinetics effects

liquid composition V' : air + gas volume V : mud volume Q' : air + gas flow rate Q : mud volume

xi

V' V

xi,0

de g

Initial condition
as sin gk ine tics fun ctio no

Q' V ' = Q V

f te

mp e

rat u

re an d

stir rin g

Equilibrium law y i = K i * xi
Liquid to gas transfer

xi,min

xi = xi , 0 y i V '
yi,max

yi
gas composition

Real mud/hydrocarbon system : thermal effect

liquid composition V' : air + gas volume V : mud volume Q' : air + gas flow rate Q : mud volume

xi

V' V

Q' V ' = Q V

xi,0

de ga ssi ng kin e ti cs inc rea se

V : mud flowrate V' : air+gas flowrate

Equilibrium law y i = K i * xi xi,min x'i,min yi,max y'i,max

Liquid to gas transfer xi = xi,0 yi * V/V

yi
gas composition

Multi pass degassing

liquid composition

xi
Initial condition

xi,0 constant extraction conditions yi = K xi at extractor outlet

xi,1 xi,2 xi,3 yi,3 yi,2 yi,1 Yi Equilibrium

V + K V n Yi = lim y i,k = y i,1 n K V k =1

gas composition

yi

gas in mud composition

Multi pass degassing

mud composition 1st pass
x i ,1 = x i , 0 M x i , j = x i,0 1 V 1 + K V
j

gas composition
y i ,1 = K x i ,1 = K x i , 0 M y i , j = K x i ,0 1 V 1 + K V
j

1 1+ K

V V

1 1+ K

V V 1

= y i ,1

jth

pass

V 1 + K V

j 1

V V log(y i,j ) = j log1 + K + log(Kx i ,0 ) = j mi + cst 1 + K = e mi V V

Yi = y i ,1 / 1 e mi

Degassing Efficiency Calibration provides mi for each component allowing to correct gas measurements yi,1 to get actual gas in mud composition Yi

Multi pass degassing - example

"normal" gas in mud conditions

Multi pass degassing - example

"normal" gas in mud conditions

Multi pass degassing - example

kick conditions

The results of Degassing Efficiency Calibration are independent of gas in mud initial composition

Conclusion - recommendations
From ideal solution to real systems No theoretical Ki can be determine Experimental calibration is required Degassing physics can be linked to Complex model with lots of parameters Equilibrium does not depends on gas in mud quantity/composition Gas extraction is controlled if Mud/air flow rate is constant Temperature is constant (extraction increase with temperature) High agitation rate to reach equilibrium faster To be efficient and reproducible, the extraction should be done at very constant conditions