【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Processing Equipment】1400–2023: The Largest Plug Flow Trap for Domestic Offshore Platforms

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Happy New Year 2024 **********************【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Processing Equipment】A continuously updated summary post is available; feel free to join the discussions at https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3576046-1-1.html (Source: Haichuan Chemical Industry Forum) ***************** During the transportation and cleaning operations of mixed-flow pipelines in oil and gas fields, significant slug flow can occur, which may lead to mechanical and operational problems. To prevent slug flow from causing stress on the oil and gas reception and processing equipment at the end of the pipeline, a slug catcher is typically installed at the end of the mixed-flow pipeline. This device provides a buffer volume for the liquid slugs flowing out of the pipeline and facilitates gas-liquid separation, thereby stabilizing the flow rates of the gas and liquid phases in the downstream processing equipment. On September 5, 2023, the slug catcher for the newly built platform section of the Phase II project of \"Deep Sea No.1\" was hoisted on land at CNOOC’s Qingdao facility. This is the largest plug flow catcher for offshore platforms in China, independently selected and designed by CNOOC Engineering, and it holds great significance for enhancing China’s capabilities in marine equipment manufacturing. 　　The slug catcher that is being lifted this time is located on the middle deck of the newly built platform. It has the shape of an elliptical tank, with a length of 22.7 meters, a cylinder diameter of 4 meters, and a wall thickness of 100 millimeters. Its weight is 240 tons, and its processing capacity is 200,000 cubic meters per hour for natural gas and 350 cubic meters per hour for liquids. It is the largest slug catcher currently used in domestic offshore platforms, and it also serves as a hub for transferring fluids in the second phase of the “Deep Sea One” project; it is crucial for the stable operation of the platform. 　　It is reported that the slug catcher for the newly built platform is large in size, heavy in weight, and has an offset center of gravity, making it difficult to lift. The project established a lifting task force, carefully analyzed the lifting plans, thoroughly identified the associated risks, and adopted a combined operation mode using two crawler cranes. The equipment was first lifted to a height of 40 meters, then moved another approximately 50 meters under coordinated effort, thereby achieving a stable and precise placement.