Author: bomuo

The pressure at which the first condensate liquid comes out of solution in a gas condensate. Many gas condensate reservoirs are saturated at initial conditions, meaning that the dewpoint is equal to the initial reservoir pressure

The process of removing water from water-base drilling mud within a gas field. The best case is when one dewaters a well they don’t recharge with water.

Pipelines also undergo a dewatering process. After the lines are laid on the seabed and filled with water to allow them to be hydro-tested, the water is then swept from the line so it is ready to accommodate the gas or other chemical. The test water will have been treated with biocides and corrosion inhibitors. Regulation should require that these chemicals should be formulated so they are not a biological hazard.

When gas is transported long distances in pipelines, consideration must be given to the control of the formation of hydrocarbon liquids in the pipelines. To prevent formation of said hydrocarbon liquids, it is necessary to control the hydrocarbon dewpoint at a temperature below all conceivable operating temperatures.

Hydrocarbon dewpoint is the temperature, at a given pressure, at which the hydrocarbon components will start to condensate out of the gaseous phase of the natural gas stream. The maximum temperature and the pressure at which such condensation takes places is the cricondentherm

Measured by a moisture analyzer, it indicates the amount of moisture

Moisture and hydrocarbon dew point are not easy parameters to measure, due to numerous factors including gas composition, contaminants, additives, high pressures, presence of corrosive compounds and other factors. It is an important measurement however since any moisture contained in the gas does not burn, it reduces the effective calorific value of the gas and therefore excess moisture reduces the value of the gas to any buyer. However, it is expensive to remove and therefore there must be a balance between the cost of removal and the reduced value if the moisture is left in the gas. Secondly, moisture in gas pipelines can cause corrosion and potential leakage. Thirdly, at the low pressure consumer end the moisture content must be low enough to avoid any condensation formation (as ice) at low winter ambient temperatures, which would lead to pipe fractures and dangerous leaks should such conditions arise. Hydrocarbon dew point is a primary measure of the quality of natural gas for most operating companies. The hydrocarbon dew-point temperature indicates the temperature at which the heavy hydrocarbon components will start to condense out of the gaseous phase, at a given pipeline pressure. Therefore, a higher hydrocarbon dew point normally indicates a higher proportion of heavy hydrocarbon components. Excess moisture in a high pressure natural gas pipeline can combine with hydrocarbon compounds to form an emulsion sludge – known as hydrate formation. This hydrate formation can be extremely disruptive, causing pipeline blockage.

The angle at which a wellbore diverges from the vertical. Wells can deviate from vertical because of the dips in the beds being drilled through. Wells can also be deliberately deviated by the use of a whipstock or other steering mechanism

A non vertical wellbore, usually one that has been intentionally drilled away from the vertical angle

Phase after the exploration well has been completed successfully and before full scale production. A development well, as defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC, is a well drilled within the proved area of a crude oil or natural gas reservoir to the depth of a stratigraphic horizon known to be productive