Browsing by Author "Igwilo, Kevin Chinwuba"

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    Evaluation of Flow Assurance in Onshore Production Facilities in the Niger Delta
    (SCIENCEDOMAIN International, 2016) Igwilo, Kevin Chinwuba; Onwugbuchulem Chibunma Vivian; Ohia Nnaemeka Princewill
    Flow assurance is the efficient and successful flow of fluids in pipes. Some of the flow assurance challenges that can be encountered include hydrate formation, sand production, wax precipitation, scale deposits and emulsion problems. In onshore production facilities in the Niger Delta, wax deposition is the major challenge to efficient fluid flow. Consequently, it has been the focus of research to profer effective predictive and preventive solutions to a problem that has been tackled with curative methods for decades. This paper investigated paraffinic wax deposition using laboratory tests and field simulation with PipeSim; a pipeline simulator. The tests gave wax content results of 3.73% and 4.77% for samples A and B. The Simulation gave results of 3.71% and 4.78% for samples A and B, producing a good match when compared against the test results with a difference of less than ه0.05%. This paper therefore recommends the use of PipeSim simulation package for wax deposition determination and prediction especially in the absence of laboratory data in addition to properly scheduled pigging and solvent injections to check wax deposition in facilities handling waxy crude oil.
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    Mathematical model for time of Leak estimation in natural gas pipeline
    (Science Publishing Group, 2019) Obibuike, Ubanozie Julian; Ekwueme, Stanley Toochukwu; Ohia, Nnaemeka Princewil; Igbojionu, Anthony Chemazu; Igwilo, Kevin Chinwuba; Kerunwa, Anthony
    The ability to detect leak is crucial in pipeline fluid transport operations. Leaks will inevitably occur in pipelines due to wide range of uncertainties. A good leak detection system should not only be able to detect leak but also accurately estimate the actual time of leak occurrence. This will enable proper estimation of the fluid loss, from the pipeline before shut-in of the pipeline or before remedial actions were carried out on the pipeline which ultimately will help quantified the degree of financial or environmental implications resulting from the leak incidence. This paper gives a new model for the estimation of the time of leak in natural gas pipeline. The idea for the model hinges on the notion that the time of response of most pipeline alarm are not necessarily the time actual time the leak occurred. Period of lapse depends on the accuracy, sophistication of the alarm system and volume of leak it is capable of detecting. Most alarm systems respond at later times than the time the leak occurred. Quantification of fluid loss volume demands that the actual time of leak occurrence be determined, this means that the time the leak occurred must be calculated accurately. The model was simulated using the Matlab software. The results show that the model is highly accurate when tested with field data