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    Mud Gas Separator (MGS) Sizing:: Gas Vent Line Mud / Gas Mixture Mud Gas Impingement Plate

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    Well Control
    The document discusses sizing considerations for a mud gas separator (MGS). An MGS separates gas from the mud/gas mixture returning from a well. Key factors include ensuring the mud return line pressure is greater than the gas vent line pressure to prevent gas blow-through. Sufficient vessel size is also important to allow adequate retention time for gas separation from the mud before it is returned to the pits. An example calculation is provided to demonstrate how to check these criteria for a given well conditions and circulating parameters.

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    Mud Gas Separator (MGS) Sizing:: Gas Vent Line Mud / Gas Mixture Mud Gas Impingement Plate

    Uploaded by

    Well Control
    133 views3 pages
    The document discusses sizing considerations for a mud gas separator (MGS). An MGS separates gas from the mud/gas mixture returning from a well. Key factors include ensuring the mud return line pressure is greater than the gas vent line pressure to prevent gas blow-through. Sufficient vessel size is also important to allow adequate retention time for gas separation from the mud before it is returned to the pits. An example calculation is provided to demonstrate how to check these criteria for a given well conditions and circulating parameters.

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    MGS sizing

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    The document discusses sizing considerations for a mud gas separator (MGS). An MGS separates gas from the mud/gas mixture returning from a well. Key factors include ensuring the mud return line pressure is greater than the gas vent line pressure to prevent gas blow-through. Sufficient vessel size is also important to allow adequate retention time for gas separation from the mud before it is returned to the pits. An example calculation is provided to demonstrate how to check these criteria for a given well conditions and circulating parameters.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    133 views3 pages

    Mud Gas Separator (MGS) Sizing:: Gas Vent Line Mud / Gas Mixture Mud Gas Impingement Plate

    Uploaded by

    Well Control
    The document discusses sizing considerations for a mud gas separator (MGS). An MGS separates gas from the mud/gas mixture returning from a well. Key factors include ensuring the mud return line pressure is greater than the gas vent line pressure to prevent gas blow-through. Sufficient vessel size is also important to allow adequate retention time for gas separation from the mud before it is returned to the pits. An example calculation is provided to demonstrate how to check these criteria for a given well conditions and circulating parameters.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 3

    Mud Gas Separator (MGS) Sizing:

    Gas Vent Line


    Mud / Gas Mixture

    Mud Gas Cut Mud Inlet

    Impingement
    Gas Plate

    Baffles
    Siphon
    Breaker

    Mud Mud Leg


    Return Line

    ID

    To understand the operating principle of the MGS only requires following the flow
    path of the fluids. Mud and gas mix enters the vessel via the mud inlet line where it
    flows and impacts an impingement plate. The impingement plate reduces wear
    inside the vessel and also causes some gas to “breakout” due to the impact. The
    plate also routes the flow downward onto an arrangement of several baffles.

    The increased turbulence caused by the baffles further causes gas mud separation.
    Gas, due to it’s density, flows upward and exits the gas vent line and the mud flows
    to the bottom and exits via the mud return line that discharges the active mud into
    the pit system. Where it is usually further processed by a vacuum degasser.

    The operating pressure within the separator is equal to the friction pressure of the
    gas exiting the vent line. Fluid level is maintained by the hydrostatic of the mud
    leg. If the vent line friction pressure exceeds the mud leg hydrostatic, gas will blow
    through to the mud pit system.

    There are many important variables that go into the design of a mud gas separator.
    Most separators being manufactured today are designed to work effectively,
    however it is still a good idea to check on capacity limits.
    Mud Gas Separator (MGS) - continued

    Separators include horizontal and vertical models but most separators used in the
    drilling industry are vertical, and that is what’s described here.

    The important issue when sizing a MGS is to ensure there is minimal chance for gas
    “blow through” to the mud pit system. The two cases where this may occur is:
    1. The mud return line friction pressure and hydrostatic “mud leg” should be
    greater than the gas vent line friction pressure when the MGS is operating
    fully.
    2. Insufficient vessel ID could reduce the retention time in the separator thus
    reducing the gas separation from the mud. The exiting mud would then
    contain an undesirable gas volume as it discharges to the mud pits.

    Working through an example will illustrate these issues and allow for a better
    understanding.

    Example Data:
    Well kick occurred and the shut-in conditions indicate that the 15 bbl kick
    could yield 66 bbl of gas with a Pcmax value of 970 psi when circulated to the
    surface using the Driller’s Method. This would require the MGS be capable of
    handling 2.84 mscf/day peak flow rate. The OMW is 12.0 ppg and the
    planned Circulating Rate (CR) is 3 bbl/min.

    Sizing Procedure
    1. Estimate the vent line friction pressure when the MGS is exposed to the peak
    gas flow rate Qmax (mscf per day). Assuming an empirical friction factor for that
    of a smooth, straight, steel pipe and a gas density of 0.01 ppg permits using
    the following formula:
    Where:
    Le= Total vent line length plus equivalent lengths for bend, etc. (For this
    example: vent line consists of 200 ft of 7” ID pipe with 2 sharp right bends)
    Ds=Vent line ID (7” for this example)
    Qmax= mscf per day of gas flow
    5.0 × 𝐿𝐿𝑒𝑒 × 𝑄𝑄𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 2
    𝑃𝑃𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 =
    𝐷𝐷𝑠𝑠 5
    2
    5.0 × (200 + 70 + 70) × 2.84𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
    𝑃𝑃𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = = 0.82𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
    7.05
    (Note: Effective vent line lengths will be greatly effected by the installation of
    flame arresters or auto-igniters.) A-
    Mud Gas Separator (MGS) - continued

    2. Check that the mud leg hydrostatic is greater than the vent line friction
    pressure. The worst case of HP in the mud leg would be if full of oil. (For
    this example an oil of 0.26 psi/ft gradient is used).
    𝑃𝑃𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 0.82
    𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 = = = 3.2 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓
    𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 0.26
    3. Check for sufficient separator ID for the planned kill circulation rate. (Here
    the CR=3 bpm.
    𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 = 15.72 × √𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 15.72 × 1.73 = 27"

    Equivalent Equivalent
    Source Sketch Length Source Sketch Length
    Bend Bend
    Acute Obtuse
    3 15
    Round Sharp

    Bend
    Acute Contraction
    150 1
    Sharp Gradual

    Bend
    Right Contraction
    1 10
    Round Abrupt

    Bend
    Right Expansion
    70 1
    Sharp Gradual

    Bend
    Obtuse Expansion
    1 20
    Round Abrupt

    Table of Bend/Corner Equivalent Lengths

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