CLIAMS:1) A method of enhancing hydrocarbon production from one of a hydrocarbon well and a flow line network, said method comprising:
a. introducing a foaming agent into either the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network;
b. forming a foam with the application of the foaming agent with the fluid in either the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network; and
c. aligning the foaming agent with the fluid in either the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network to unload the fluid.
2) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foaming agent enhances the fluid unloading from the hydrocarbon well and the flow line network by at least one of the following manner:
a. modifying the interfacial surface tension of the fluid in either the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network;
b. forming a foam with the fluid in either the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network; and
c. reducing fractional fluid hold-up in either the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network.
3) The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein said foaming agent is selected such that:
a. a balance of foam producing and foam sustaining capabilities based on the properties of the fluid being produced from the hydrocarbon well and the flow line network and production network configuration is maintained; and
b. is compatible with other injected chemicals.
4) The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the injected chemicals are at least or selected from a group consisting corrosion inhibitors and de-foaming agents.
5) An intelligent system for enhancing hydrocarbon production from either one of a hydrocarbon well and/or a flow line network, said intelligent system comprising:
• a plurality of networked hydrocarbon wells;
• at least one manifold that is connected to and in communication with at least one of said plurality of networked hydrocarbon wells;
• at least one Subsea Distribution Assembly (SDA) that is connected to and in communication with at least one manifold;
• at least one Umbilical Distribution Hub (UDH) that is connected to and in communication with at least one SDA;
• at least one Deep Water Pipe Line End Manifold (DWPLEM) that is connected to and in communication with at least one of said plurality of manifolds;
• at least one Control and Riser Platform (CRP) that is connected to and in communication with said UDH and said DWPLEM;
• at least one flow line network for transporting produced and injected fluids from the hydrocarbon wells to a surface facility and vice versa;
• a plurality of control valves and sensors for continuous monitoring of pressure, temperature and flow rate of fluid; and
• at least one injection chemical for injection through said manifold into either hydrocarbon well and/or flow line network;
wherein said injection chemical is selected from a group consisting of at least one surfactant, one de-foaming agent and one corrosion inhibitor, and is injected through said system to ensure a stable flow of gas by minimizing pressure losses in flow line network. ,TagSPECI:FIELD OF DISCLOSURE
The present disclosure relates to the field of hydrocarbon production. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a method and an intelligent system for enhancing hydrocarbon production from a hydrocarbon well and/or a flow line network with application of a foaming agent.
DEFINITIONS
As used in the present disclosure, the following words and phrases are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used to indicate otherwise.
• CICV- Chemical Injection Control Valve
• MEG – Mono Ethylene Glycol
• GICV – Glycol Injection Control Valve
• CRP – Control and Riser Platform
• DWPLEM – Deep Water Pipe Line End Manifold
• UDH – Umbilical Distribution Hub
• SDA – Subsea Distribution Assembly
• Wellhead - A component at the surface of an oil or gas well that provides the structural and pressure-containing interface for the production equipment.
• Wellhead back-pressure - The pressure registered in the wellhead of a producing hydrocarbon well.
BACKGROUND
There has been a significantly growing hydrocarbon demand over the past few years, which has been driving the need for many hydrocarbon producers to concentrate their efforts on enhancing hydrocarbon production. Frequently, a hydrocarbon field contains other fluids such as hydrocarbon condensates, water, crude oil, etc. in addition to natural gas. Generally, in the early life of a hydrocarbon well and/or a flow line network, the original pressure is adequately high to allow the hydrocarbon to flow by its own energy. However, with time, due to reduction in reservoir pressure coupled with increased loading in flow lines and pipe networks due to decreasing flow rates there is an increase in fluid drop-out/fluid hold-up in hydrocarbon wells and/or the flow line network resulting in production with more hydrostatic pressure against the reservoir. Further, in hydrocarbon wells and/or the flow line networks, production decreases due to declining reservoir pressure and fluid loading that occurs when water and condensate enter the bottom of the well, particularly, in case of maturing and/or depleting of the hydrocarbon field. Further, reduction in reservoir pressure coupled with increased fluid loading in the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network due to decreasing flow rates can cause additional back-pressure.
In many cases, the fluid loading in the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network and resulting additional back-pressure can cause the hydrocarbon production to drop significantly, or cease completely. In such cases, it becomes necessary to unload more efficiently the fluid accumulated in the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network so as to maximise hydrocarbon production.
Thus, there is a felt need for a method of producing hydrocarbon economically from a well and/or a flow line networks with efficient fluid unloading. Accordingly, it is desirable to have an intelligent system which can economically optimize the use of injected chemicals such that operational costs for the wells and/or the flow line network are balanced with revenue generated from hydrocarbon recovery.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method for enhancing hydrocarbon production.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method for enhancing hydrocarbon production which improves synergy between hydrocarbon wells and/or flow line networks.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method for enhancing hydrocarbon production which reduces the hydrostatic head against the reservoir due to fluid accumulation in the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method for enhancing hydrocarbon production which gives a process for selecting injected chemicals.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide an intelligent hydrocarbon production system which uses injection chemicals at one or more hydrocarbon wells in a manner so as to ensure stable flow of fluid by minimizing pressure losses in the flow line network.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method for enhancing hydrocarbon production which enables the hydrocarbon wells flow below critical flow rates, thus extending life of the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following descriptions which are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY
The present disclosure relates to a method and an intelligent system for enhancing hydrocarbon production from a hydrocarbon well and/or a flow line network. Due to fluid loading issues in the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network, additional back-pressure is exerted against the reservoir and synergy between the hydrocarbon wells and/or the flow line network is adversely affected. Application of injected chemicals, in particular a foaming agent can reduce fluid head in the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network. The foaming agent forms foam by agitating fluid produced in the hydrocarbon well or flow line network. The alignment of the foaming agent at an interface modifies the surface property of water and hydrocarbon gas interface; further reduces the liquid phase pressure in flow line resulting in reduction of fractional liquid holdup in the line dynamically. The reduction of back-pressure on the hydrocarbon wellhead reduces well downstream pressure and this synchronizes with tubing head pressure and the reservoir as well. This drop in pressure invites more flux from the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A preferred embodiment will now be described in detail. The preferred embodiment does not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiment herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiment in the following description. Description of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiment herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiment herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiment herein. Accordingly, the example should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiment herein.
In accordance with the present disclosure, a method for enhancing production from a hydrocarbon well and/or a flow line network is described. The method involves continuous injection of a foaming agent into the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network. The injection of foaming agent can reduce fluid pressure head in the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network, particularly in case of a hydrocarbon field which is already at a depletion stage. Further reduction in reservoir pressure coupled with increased fluid loading in the flow line due to decreasing flow rates can cause hydrocarbon wells to cease at lower production rates.
Due to fluid loading issues in the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network, consequential additional back-pressure is created on the hydrocarbon wells and thus, the wells are unable to flow at lower fluid rates.
The present method for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery in deep water reservoir include an intelligent production facility that consist of various control units such as - networked wells, manifolds, DWPLEM, CRP with surface facilities for transporting produced and injected fluids from wellhead to surface facility with minimum pressure loss for fluid transport. These production facility control units operate in a manner so as to optimize the foaming agent injection at one or more hydrocarbon wells and flow line network to ensure a stable flow of gas by minimising pressure losses. The production facility also includes various control components (valves, sensors) for continuous monitoring of pressure, temperature and flow rate.
By introducing the foaming agent into the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network through CICV on wellhead the foaming agent mixes with water from the hydrocarbon well and MEG is injected through GICV. Hydrocarbon produced from the well agitates with liquid and then foam is created. The foaming agent thus introduced in deep water flow line network can also create foam in pockets or part of the network. The alignment of foaming agent at the interface modifies the surface property of water & hydrocarbon interface; by reducing interfacial surface tension of the rich MEG and the hydrocarbon further reducing the liquid phase pressure in flow line and this result in reduction of fractional fluid holdup in the line dynamically. This further result in drop in back-pressure on the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network. The stream coming from the hydrocarbon well could contain either gas or water or both.
Reduction of back-pressure on wells reduces well downstream pressure and further synchronizes with tubing head pressure and the reservoir as well. This drop in pressure invites more flux from the well.
The foaming agent can reduce back-pressure on the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network by reducing fluid loading in downstream flow lines especially in deep water operations. No effect on the downstream process at onshore terminal has been observed due to application of the foaming agent.
A method of optimizing the injected agent dosage based on a multitude of parameters such as fluid production rates, differential pressures across various nodes of the production facility, temperature and pressure at various points on the flow line network besides others. The injected agents such as surfactant or foaming agent, de-foaming agent, corrosion inhibitor is chosen carefully to have a balance of foam producing and foam sustaining capabilities considering the application of the same based on flow line network configuration and transported fluid properties. Also, compatibility of such agents with other existing agents such as – corrosion inhibitor in the system is also established.
Thus, application of foaming agent in the hydrocarbon production can successfully be improved by maximizing the fluid unloading which are typically experienced in depleting or marginal hydrocarbon wells.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The method for enhancing the production from a hydrocarbon well and/or a flow line network, in accordance with the present disclosure has several technical advantages including but not limited to the realization of:
a. an intelligent system for hydrocarbon production that consists of various control units such as – networked wells, manifolds, DWPLEM, CRP, UDH, CRP etc. with surface facilities for transporting produced and injected fluids from the wellhead to surface facilities with minimum pressure loss;
b. the control units operate in a manner so as to optimize the surfactant injection at one of more hydrocarbon wells to ensure a stable flow of fluid by minimizing pressure losses in the flow line network;
c. continuous injection of the foaming agent improves synergy between the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network as the pressure head created by fluid is reduced and thus extending the life of the hydrocarbon well and/or flow line network;
d. ability to flow the hydrocarbon wells and/or the flow line network at or below critical rates, further increasing the hydrocarbon well up-time;
e. the depleting or marginal hydrocarbon wells and/or the flow line network can be considered for extended period of production adding up to increased realized volume; and
f. the economy of hydrocarbon production is improved since the fluid unloading takes place more efficiently which in turn adds to the hydrocarbon well and/or the flow line network up-time by reducing the impact of turn-down rate of manifolds.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the invention to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the invention as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
Wherever a range of values is specified, a value up to 10% below and above the lowest and highest numerical value respectively, of the specified range, is included in the scope of the disclosure.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the particular features of this invention, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other modifications in the nature of the invention or the preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.