JP6799734B2 - Gas production system and gas production method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gas production system and a gas production method for producing gas by decomposing gas hydrate in the ground.

In recent years, natural gas hydrate has been attracting attention as a natural gas resource. Natural gas emits less carbon dioxide when burned than oil and coal, and natural gas hydrate, which consists of natural gas and water, is a promising resource in terms of controlling global warming.
Natural gas hydrate is a clathrate compound having a crystal structure in which methane molecules are surrounded by water molecules in a cage shape. Natural gas hydrate exists in a solid state under low temperature and high pressure environments, and stably exists in the surface layer of the deep sea floor and the stratum below the sea floor that satisfy such an environment.

Conventionally, as a method of extracting natural gas from natural gas hydrate existing on the seabed, a decompression method for decomposing natural gas hydrate by applying a depressurized pressure to a high water pressure applied to the natural gas hydrate is known. (For example, Patent Document 1).
In the decompression method, specifically, a pipe (riser pipe) that carries natural gas from the seabed to the sea is used to discharge the seawater in the pipe to lower the liquid level, and the pressure of the seawater in the riser pipe is reduced to natural gas. It acts on the submarine layer (hydrate layer) containing hydrate and decomposes it. The natural gas produced by the decomposition of natural gas hydrate is taken into the seawater in the riser pipe as a multiphase flow (gas-liquid mixture) mixed with the liquid. The seawater that has taken in the multiphase flow is separated into natural gas and seawater (gas-liquid separation) in the riser pipe, and each is discharged to the sea.

In order to increase the production of natural gas using the decompression method, it is important to keep the pressure acting on the natural gas hydrate within the range of the pressure at which the natural gas hydrate decomposes (decomposition pressure). For this reason, in the decompression method, seawater is discharged by controlling the rotation frequency of the pump while monitoring the bottom pressure by measuring the pressure (bottom pressure) at the tip of the riser pipe that has an intake port that takes in the multiphase flow. The bottom pressure is adjusted by controlling the amount.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-261252

In this way, in the decompression method, the pressure acting on the natural gas hydrate is controlled in the pump so that the pressure at the tip of the riser pipe (pit pressure) becomes the set pressure, but it is introduced into the pump. Bubbles may be mixed in the liquid such as seawater due to insufficient gas-liquid separation. In particular, as the degree of decomposition of natural gas hydrate increases, the flow of liquid in the form containing a large number of fine bubbles tends to occur. However, since the fine bubbles have a weak floating force and are difficult to separate from the liquid, the bubbles are likely to be mixed in the pump.
When air bubbles enter the pump, the amount of liquid discharged by the pump tends to fluctuate, which makes the height of the liquid level in the riser pipe unstable. When the height of the liquid level becomes unstable, the pressure at the tip of the riser pipe (bottom pressure) fluctuates, and the pressure acting on the natural gas hydrate also fluctuates, so that the production of natural gas becomes unstable.

Therefore, the present invention provides a gas production system and a manufacturing method capable of improving the ability to separate a gas and a liquid in a riser tube and suppressing the mixing of air bubbles in the liquid introduced into a pump. The purpose.

One aspect of the present invention is a system for producing gas by decomposing gas hydrate in the ground.
A long tube having a tip configured to be buried in the ground, a gas hide outside the tube using the pressure generated by the liquid in the tube extending upward from the tip. By reducing the pressure acting on the rate, a gas-liquid mixture containing bubbles generated by decomposition from the gas hydrate is provided at the tip of the pipe and outside the pipe so as to be taken into the liquid in the pipe. A riser tube with an open hole and
A pump that sucks up the liquid in the riser pipe and discharges it to the outside of the riser pipe is provided.
The tip has a lift tube configured for the liquid to flow upward while swirling around a straight line extending upward.
The pump on up suck the liquid supplied to the riser pipe from the AgeOsamukan,
The lift pipe has the holes, is thinner than the portion of the riser pipe to which the liquid is supplied, extends linearly upward, and the liquid spirals along the inner wall of the lift pipe. It is configured to form a flow path to
The height position at which the lift pipe supplies the liquid into the riser pipe is higher than the height position at which the liquid is sucked up by the pump .
Another aspect of the present invention is a system for producing gas by decomposing gas hydrate in the ground.
A long tube having a tip configured to be buried in the ground, a gas hide outside the tube using the pressure generated by the liquid in the tube extending upward from the tip. By reducing the pressure acting on the rate, a gas-liquid mixture containing bubbles generated by decomposition from the gas hydrate is provided at the tip of the pipe and outside the pipe so as to be taken into the liquid in the pipe. A riser tube with an open hole and
A pump that sucks up the liquid in the riser pipe and discharges it to the outside of the riser pipe is provided.
The tip portion has the hole and is thinner than the portion of the riser pipe to which the liquid is supplied, and extends linearly upward, and the liquid extends upward. It has a lift pipe that is configured to flow upward while swirling around a straight line.
The lift pipe is formed with a flow path through which the liquid flows spirally along the inner wall of the lift pipe, and is upward inward in the radial direction of the lift pipe with respect to the flow path. An inclined wall is provided that protrudes radially inward from the inner wall of the lift pipe and spirally extends around a straight line passing through the radial center of the lift pipe so as to form an extending cavity region.
The protruding height of the inclined wall from the inner wall is longer than 1/4 of the inner diameter of the lift pipe.
The pump is characterized by sucking up the liquid supplied from the pickup pipe into the riser pipe.

The riser tube includes a space surrounded by an inner wall of the riser tube.
The lift pipe preferably supplies the liquid into the space so that a swirling flow of the liquid flowing around the inner wall of the riser pipe is formed in the space.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of producing gas by decomposing gas hydrate in the ground.
A step of reducing the pressure acting on the gas hydrate outside the tube by using the pressure generated by the liquid in the riser tube which has a tip buried in the ground and extends upward from the tip.
A gas-liquid mixture containing bubbles generated from the gas hydrate decomposed by the reduced pressure acting on the gas hydrate is taken into the liquid in the riser tube through a hole opened outside the riser tube. , The step of extracting gas from the bubbles,
A step of sucking up the liquid in the riser tube and discharging it to the outside of the riser tube by using a pump is provided.
In the step of taking out the gas, a lift pipe having the holes and thinner than the portion of the riser pipe to which the liquid is supplied, which extends linearly upward and extends upward. Using the lift pipe at the tip, which is configured to allow the liquid to flow upward while swirling around, the liquid is allowed to flow upward while swirling around a straight line extending upward. , The liquid is supplied from the lift pipe into the riser pipe.
Wherein in the step of discharging, on up suck the liquid supplied to the riser pipe from the AgeOsamukan,
The lift pipe is formed with a flow path through which the liquid flows spirally along the inner wall of the lift pipe, and is upward inward in the radial direction of the lift pipe with respect to the flow path. An inclined wall is provided that protrudes radially inward from the inner wall of the lift pipe and spirally extends around a straight line passing through the radial center of the lift pipe so as to form an extending cavity region.
The protruding height of the inclined wall from the inner wall is longer than 1/4 of the inner diameter of the lift pipe .

In the step of removing said gas, further wherein the enclosed space to the inner wall of the riser pipe, so that the swirling flow of the liquid flowing circumferentially along the inner wall is formed, said space from said AgeOsamukan It is preferable to supply the liquid to the water.

According to the gas production system and the gas production method described above, the ability to separate the gas and the liquid in the riser pipe can be improved, and air bubbles can be suppressed from being mixed in the liquid introduced into the pump.

It is a figure which shows schematicly the gas production system of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the internal structure near the tip part of a riser tube. It is a figure which shows the example of the morphology of a body. It is a figure explaining the gas-liquid separation tank of a riser tube. It is a figure explaining the cross section of the modification of the tube part. It is a figure which shows the modification of the gas-liquid separation tank. It is a figure which shows the gas-liquid separation tank of FIG. 5 from the top view. It is a figure explaining the flow of the liquid discharged from a pipe part. It is a figure explaining the flow of the liquid in a gas-liquid separation tank.

Hereinafter, the gas production system and the gas production method of the present invention will be described. In the following description, natural gas hydrate is taken as an example of gas hydrate, but gas hydrate is not limited to natural gas hydrate.
Further, the gas production system referred to in the present specification is different from the system that generates gas from the gas hydrate on the seabed surface because it generates gas by decompressing and decomposing the gas hydrate in the ground.

(Outline explanation of gas production system)
The gas production system of one embodiment (hereinafter, also referred to as a system) is a system that produces gas by decomposing gas hydrate in the ground. The system mainly includes a riser tube and a pump.
The riser pipe is a long pipe having a tip portion configured to be buried in the ground. The riser tube is provided at the tip end and includes a hole opened to the outside of the tube. The holes opened to the outside are provided so as to take in a gas-liquid mixture containing bubbles generated by decomposition from gas hydrate into the liquid in the tube. Gas hydrate is decomposed by reducing the pressure acting on the gas hydrate outside the tube using the pressure generated by the liquid in the tube extending upward from the tip of the riser tube.
The pump sucks up the liquid in the riser tube and discharges it to the outside of the riser tube.
The tip has a tubular portion configured to allow the liquid to flow upward while swirling around a straight line extending upward.
The pump sucks up the liquid supplied into the riser pipe from the pipe portion.

In this system, the liquid containing air bubbles taken into the riser tube flows upward through the tube portion at the tip, is supplied into the riser tube, and is sucked up by a pump. At this time, since the liquid containing bubbles flows in the pipe portion while swirling around a straight line extending upward, a centrifugal force acts on the liquid containing bubbles due to the difference in specific gravity between the liquid and the gas. , The liquid moves away from the straight line (outside), and the bubbles are collected on the side approaching the straight line (inside). Some of the bubbles collected inside are easily separated from the liquid because the bubbles are united (combined) and become large, so that they easily float on the liquid surface.

In this way, since the ability to separate gas and liquid (gas-liquid separation performance) is improved, the mixing of gas into the liquid introduced into the pump is suppressed. As a result, the amount of liquid discharged by the pump is stable, the height of the liquid level in the riser pipe is stable, and the pressure (pit pressure) at the tip of the riser pipe is less likely to fluctuate. Therefore, the pressure acting on the gas hydrate is less likely to fluctuate, and gas production can be stably performed.

(Specific explanation of gas production system)
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a system 1 of one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration in the vicinity of the tip portion 10a of the riser tube 10. Hereinafter, a system 1 for producing natural gas by decomposing natural gas hydrate in the ground on the seabed will be described as an example.

The system 1 is a system that takes out natural gas generated by decomposing natural gas hydrate in the ground from a riser pipe 10 extending into the ground from a drillship 3 on the sea via the seabed.
The system 1 mainly includes a riser pipe 10, a pump 23, a gas generation line 12, a liquid discharge line 13, and a control device 40.

The riser pipe 10 is a long pipe having a tip portion 10a configured to be buried in the ground. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the riser pipe 10 extends vertically downward from the drillship 3, and the tip portion 10a is buried in the well 7 on the seabed. The well 7 is a hole provided by excavation, and in the example shown in FIG. 1, it penetrates the upper layer 4 including the seabed 2 and is closed in the hydrate layer 5 located in the lower layer. The upper layer 4 is, for example, a mud layer containing a large amount of mud. The hydrate layer 5 is, for example, a layer called a sand-mud alternating layer containing a large amount of mud and sand. The hydrate layer 5 has a sandy layer spreading in the lateral direction in which natural gas hydrate is incorporated into sand or mud. The boundary between the upper layer 4 and the hydrate layer 5 is located, for example, several hundred meters below the seabed, and the seabed 2 is located, for example, at a depth of 300 meters to a thousand and several hundred meters.

The riser tube 10 includes a tube body 11 and a screen 19 (see FIG. 2).
A pump 23, a gas generation line 12, and a part of the liquid discharge line 13 are provided in the pipe body 11.
In addition to this, a heater 26 is provided in the pipe body 11.

The pipe body 11 is a member that isolates the inner space from water or seawater, except for the hole 18a described later in the portion (pipe portion) 18 that functions as a pickup pipe. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the pipe body 11 is provided with partition walls 17a and 17b and partition walls 17c that partition the inner space vertically. The portion of the pipe body 11 extending through the partition wall 17c to the tip of the riser tube 10 is a portion 18 (hereinafter, this portion) in which the gas-liquid mixture taken into the liquid from the hydrate layer 5 flows upward together with the liquid. It is also referred to as a collection pipe portion 18), and in the example shown in FIG. 1, the pipe diameter is smaller than that of the pipe main body 11 above the partition wall 17c. The pickup pipe portion 18 is located in the hydrate layer 5.

The screen 19 is provided in the lift pipe portion 18 so as to cover the hole 18a opened to the outside of the riser pipe 10. The hole 18a is provided in the lift pipe portion 18 at a depth position in contact with the sandy layer in the hydrate layer 5.
The screen 19 is a member that takes in air bubbles and water generated by decomposition of natural gas hydrate, as well as seawater, and separates and removes sand and mud. The screen 19 has a function of allowing air bubbles, water, and seawater to pass through, but not sand and mud. The screen 19 is, for example, a sheet-like or plate-like structure having a large number of holes, and is composed of a plurality of structures having different hole sizes and shapes. Specific examples of combinations of a plurality of structures include Johnson screens, meshes, and gratings. The Johnson screen is well known as a wire mesh structure manufactured by Johnson Screen. Grating is a member in which steel materials are assembled in a grid pattern. The Johnson screen, mesh, and grating are arranged on the lift pipe portion 18 in this order from the side of the lift pipe portion 18 toward the side of the hydrate 5 layer.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lift pipe portion 18 is provided with a plurality of holes 18a along the depth direction for taking in the gas-liquid mixture that has passed through the screen 19. The hole 18a penetrates the wall portion of the lift pipe portion 18 and opens to the outside of the lift pipe portion 18. When the riser pipe 10 is provided with the hole 18a, the pressure acting on the natural gas hydrate is reduced by using the bottom pressure, whereby the gas-liquid mixture can be taken into the riser pipe 10.
The bottom pressure is a pressure determined by the head pressure received by the lower end of the riser pipe 10 by the liquid below the liquid level S described later. The lower end of the riser pipe 10 is located at substantially the same height as the hole bottom (pit bottom) of the well 7. Here, the tip portion 10a includes a portion of the riser tube 10 provided with the hole 18a.
In the liquid in the riser pipe 10, a gas-liquid mixture produced by decomposition from natural gas hydrate is taken in, and water and seawater that have entered through the hole 18a are taken in. Since the gas-liquid mixture contains bubbles, the liquid in the riser tube 10 contains bubbles. Water and seawater originate from water and seawater contained in the hydrate layer 5, and water and seawater contained in other strata in contact with the hydrate layer 5.

The riser pipe 10 further includes a pressure gauge 31 for measuring the bottom pressure, which is provided at the tip of the lift pipe portion 18, specifically at the lower end of the riser pipe 10. The pressure gauge 31 is connected to the control device 40 and outputs a measurement signal of the bottom pressure toward the control device 40.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pump 23 and the heater 26 are provided in the space 15b of the riser pipe 10 partitioned by the partition walls 17b and 17c. The portion of the riser tube 10 surrounding the space 15b functions as a gas-liquid separation tank 20. In the space 15b, in the example shown in FIG. 2, a gas phase space G into which the gas separated from the liquid in the gas-liquid separation tank 20 flows is formed above the liquid level S of the liquid.

In the gas-liquid separation tank 20, at least a part of the bubbles in the gas-liquid mixture taken into the liquid is separated in the lift pipe portion 18. The gas in the separated bubbles is the gas produced. In the gas-liquid separation tank 20, a liquid transport pipe 14 described later, which constitutes a liquid discharge line 13, is arranged. The gas-liquid separation tank 20 will be described in detail later.

A pump 23 is provided in the liquid transport pipe 14. The pump 23 sucks up the liquid in the riser pipe 10 and discharges it to the outside of the riser pipe 10. Specifically, the pump 23 draws the liquid in the space 15b into the liquid transport pipe 14 and discharges it from the riser pipe 10. The pump 23 of the example shown in FIG. 2 is an auger pump having a motor 24 and a screw 25 driven by the motor 24. The screw 25 has a shaft extending in the vertical direction and blades extending spirally around the shaft, and has a function of sending the liquid in the liquid transport pipe 14 upward while stirring. The motor 24 is electrically connected to the control device 40 of the drillship 3. The motor 24 receives the signal output from the control device 40 and is controlled to drive at a set frequency or an adjusted frequency. The motor 24 is arranged in the liquid transport pipe 14 so as to form a gap in the liquid transport pipe 14 that serves as a flow path for the liquid. Since seawater or water continues to flow into the riser pipe 10 through the hole 18a during the operation of the system 1, the pump 23 is normally maintained in an operating state.

The heater 26 is a device that heats the liquid that has flowed into the space 15b. The heater 26 is connected to the control device 40. Since the decomposition reaction of natural gas hydrate is an endothermic reaction, the temperature of the gas-liquid mixture taken into the liquid drops and the natural gas hydrate is regenerated, for example, the lower end of the liquid transport pipe 14 may be blocked. is there. The heater 26 heats the liquid continuously or intermittently during the operation of the system 1 to suppress the regeneration of natural gas hydrate. Further, when it is determined that the natural gas hydrate has been regenerated, it is controlled to be driven by receiving a signal output from the control device 40, and the regenerated natural gas hydrate is heated by heating the liquid. And disassemble.

The gas generation line 12 constitutes a gas flow path in which the gas generated from the bubbles floating on the liquid surface S and flowing into the gas phase space G is taken out from the riser pipe 10 as the natural gas to be produced. Specifically, the gas generation line 12 includes a pipe that carries the gas in the gas phase space G to the drillship 3 as natural gas to be produced. The gas generation line 12 is arranged in the pipe body 11 above the liquid level S, and the lower end of the gas generation line 12 is connected to the gas phase space G.
A valve for adjusting the pressure of the gas is provided at the tip of the gas generation line 12. Further, the tip of the gas generation line 12 is connected to, for example, a storage tank (not shown) provided in the drillship 3 or another vessel. The natural gas stored in the storage tank is appropriately liquefied and transported over the sea by a drillship 3 or another vessel.

The liquid discharge line 13 constitutes a liquid flow path that carries the liquid separated from the natural gas in the pipe body 11 to the drillship 3.
In the example shown in FIG. 1, the liquid discharge line 13 includes a liquid transport pipe 14 extending from the gas-liquid separation tank 20 to the space 15a, and a pipe 16 branching from the pipe body 11 and extending from the space 15a to the drillship 3. Have. The space 15a is a space partitioned by partition walls 17a and 17b.
The discharged liquid is collected and stored, for example, in water.

The tip portion 10a of the riser pipe 10 is provided with a pressure gauge 31 for measuring the pressure (pit bottom pressure) at the tip portion 10a of the riser pipe 10. The pressure gauge 31 is connected to the control device 40, and information on the measurement result of the pressure (pit pressure) at the tip portion 10a is transmitted to the control device 40. The pressure at the tip portion 10a is determined by the position of the liquid level S of the liquid and the pressure in the gas phase space G.

The control device 40 is configured to control the pressure acting on the natural gas hydrate according to the bottom pressure. The control device 40 is composed of a computer including a CPU, a memory, and the like. The control device 40 is provided on the drillship 3 in the example shown in FIG.

The bottom pressure is acquired from the measurement result information transmitted from the pressure gauge 31. The control device 40 determines whether or not the bottom pressure is within the target pressure range at regular time intervals. In this determination, if the bottom pressure is within the target pressure range, control is performed to maintain the pressure acting on the gas hydrate. Specifically, the rotation speed of the pump 23 is maintained. On the other hand, when the bottom pressure is higher than the target pressure range, the rate of decomposition of the natural gas hydrate is not within the predetermined range, so the bottom pressure is controlled to be low. Specifically, the rotation speed of the pump 23 is increased. Further, when the bottom pressure is lower than the target pressure range, the rate of decomposition of the natural gas hydrate is not within the predetermined range, so the bottom pressure is controlled to be high. Specifically, the rotation speed of the pump 23 is lowered.

The system 1 is assembled by loading, for example, a material to be a riser pipe 10, a pump 23, a gas generation line 12, a liquid discharge line 13, and a control device 40 on a drillship 3 and transporting them to a predetermined position on the sea. The well 7 is pre-drilled before assembling the system 1.

The system 1 may include a fixed or floating offshore platform instead of the drillship 3. In this case, it is preferable to provide a pipeline that connects the offshore platform and the land and transports natural gas from the offshore platform to the land.

(Gas-liquid separation tank)
Next, the gas-liquid separation tank 20 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the gas-liquid separation tank 20, and is a view showing the gas-liquid separation tank 20 as viewed from the side (left side) of FIG. FIG. 3 shows the internal configuration of the pickup pipe portion 18. In addition, in FIG. 3, the gas-liquid separation tank 20 has a size different from that of the gas-liquid separation tank 20 shown in FIG. 2, and is shown in a simplified manner.

The space 15b of the riser tube 10 is a space surrounded by the inner wall of the tube body 11 of the riser tube 10. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the space 15b is a substantially columnar space extending in the vertical direction. The liquid in which the gas-liquid mixture is incorporated is supplied to the space 15b.
In the example shown in FIG. 3, the lift pipe portion 18 extends above the partition wall 17c, and the upper end of the lift pipe portion 18 is located in the space 15b. In FIG. 2, the portion of the lift pipe portion 18 extending upward from the partition wall 17c is not shown.

In the system 1, the lift pipe portion 18 is configured such that the liquid flows upward while swirling around a straight line extending upward. The straight line extending upward is a virtual straight line extending in the vertical direction, and is a straight line passing through the axis 51 of the lift pipe portion 18 described later in the example shown in FIG. Specifically, the lift pipe portion 18 of the example shown in FIG. 3 is configured to extend linearly upward and form a flow path through which the liquid flows spirally along the inner wall of the lift pipe portion 18. ing.
In the lift pipe portion 18 of the example shown in FIG. 3, a flow path forming member 50 is provided inside the pipe body. The flow path forming member 50 has a shaft 51 extending in the vertical direction and blades 52 provided on the shaft 51, and has a screw shape. The blades 52 project radially outward from the shaft 51 and spirally extend around the shaft 51. The blade 52 is fixed to the inner wall of the lift pipe portion 18 without a gap. By such a flow path forming member 50, a flow path through which the liquid flows spirally along the inner wall of the lift pipe portion 18 is formed in the lift pipe portion 18.

The liquid containing air bubbles flows upward in the lift pipe portion 18 while swirling around the shaft 51 with the shaft 51 as the swirling center. At this time, a centrifugal force acts on the liquid from the center of rotation to the outside. As a result, due to the difference in specific gravity between the liquid and the gas, the liquid moves to the side away from the shaft 51 (outside), and the bubbles are collected on the side approaching the shaft 51 (inside). Since the bubbles collected inside are frequently in contact with each other, some of the bubbles become one (combine) and become large. The enlarged air bubbles are likely to float on the liquid surface in the space 15b after the liquid is discharged into the space 15b from the pickup pipe portion 18, and are easily separated from the liquid. As described above, in the system 1, the ability to separate the gas and the liquid (gas-liquid separation performance) is improved, and the mixing of the gas into the liquid introduced into the pump 23 is suppressed. As a result, the amount of liquid discharged by the pump 23 is stabilized, and the pressure (pit pressure) at the tip portion 10a of the riser pipe 10 is less likely to fluctuate. Therefore, the pressure acting on the gas hydrate is less likely to fluctuate, and gas production can be stably performed.

In particular, when the degree of decomposition of gas hydrate becomes large, the fine bubbles generated in high-pressure seawater have a weak floating force and are difficult to be separated from the liquid. However, even if a liquid containing a large number of fine bubbles flows into the pickup pipe portion 18, the gas-liquid separation performance is improved as described above, so that the mixing of gas into the liquid introduced into the pump 23 is suppressed. To.

Further, since the gas-liquid separation performance of the system 1 is improved, it is not necessary to increase the size of the space 15b in order to increase the residence time of the liquid containing gas. Since the space for gas-liquid separation is usually arranged in the portion of the riser pipe buried in the well on the seabed, it is difficult to improve the gas-liquid separation performance by increasing the size.

Further, since the gas-liquid separation is performed by using the centrifugal force, the centrifuge conventionally used for the gas-liquid separation in the riser tube 10 can be omitted in the system 1. In addition, the conventional centrifuge is arranged in the liquid transport pipe, for example, and is configured to discharge the air bubbles collected in the liquid transport pipe to the outside of the liquid transport pipe by utilizing centrifugal force.

According to one embodiment, the lift pipe portion 18 forms a cavity region 54 extending upwardly inside the lift pipe portion 18 in the radial direction with respect to the flow path, as shown in FIG. It is preferable that the configuration is as follows. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the lift pipe portion 18.
The lift pipe portion 18 is provided with a flow path forming portion 55 inside the pipe body. The flow path forming portion 55 of the example shown in FIG. 4 is composed of a spiral inclined wall 53. The inclined wall 53 projects radially inward from the inner wall of the lift pipe portion 18 and spirally extends around a straight line passing through the radial center of the lift pipe portion 18. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the protruding height of the inclined wall 53 from the inner wall of the lift pipe portion 18 is shorter than the radius of the inner diameter of the lift pipe portion 18. Therefore, the cavity region 54 is formed inside the inclined wall 53 in the radial direction. The cavity region 54 extends upward along the straight line.

The liquid containing bubbles flows upward in the lift pipe portion 18 while swirling around the linear center passing through the radial center of the lift pipe portion 18. In this case as well, as in the case of flowing through the pickup pipe portion 18 shown in FIG. 3, centrifugal force acts on the liquid, bubbles are collected inside, and some bubbles become large. Then, in the pickup pipe portion 18 of the example shown in FIG. 4, the collected air bubbles and the enlarged air bubbles pass through the cavity region 54 without passing through the spiral flow path formed by the inclined wall 53. , Ascends in the lift pipe portion 18 and is discharged into the space 15b. In this way, the gas quickly separates from the liquid.
On the other hand, in the pickup pipe portion 18 of the example shown in FIG. 4, a part of the liquid also rises through the cavity region 54. From the viewpoint of reducing the amount of such liquid, the protruding height H of the inclined wall 53 is, for example, 1/4 of the inner diameter of the lift pipe portion 18 (the distance between the facing inner walls along the radial direction). It is preferably longer than the length, and more preferably longer than 1/3 of the inner diameter of the lift pipe portion 18.

If the pitch P of the spiral flow path formed in the pickup pipe portion 18 is too long, the flow path will be shortened, and sufficient centrifugal force cannot be applied to the liquid. Further, the shorter the pitch P of the spiral flow path, the longer the flow path and the larger the flow velocity of the liquid flowing through the flow path. This is because the flow rate of the liquid passing through the pickup pipe portion 18 does not depend on the length of the flow path. From these viewpoints, the pitch P of the spiral flow path is preferably shorter than twice the inner diameter of the lift pipe portion 18.
On the other hand, if the pitch P of the spiral flow path of the pickup pipe portion 18 is too short, the flow path becomes too long and the friction loss becomes large. Therefore, the pitch P of the spiral flow path is lifted. It is preferably longer than 0.5 times the inner diameter of the tube portion 18.

The height position at which the lift pipe portion 18 supplies the liquid into the space 15b is preferably higher than the height position at which the liquid is sucked up by the pump 23, as shown in FIG. Specifically, it is preferable that the height position of the supply port 18b of the pickup pipe portion 18 is higher than the height position of the suction port 14a of the liquid transport pipe 14. As a result, the liquid supplied from the pickup pipe portion 18 into the space 15b flows downward before flowing into the liquid transport pipe 14, so that the gravity applied to the liquid and the gas is used to enter the liquid. A part of the remaining bubbles can be further separated. Therefore, the gas-liquid separation performance of the system 1 is increased.

According to one embodiment, the lift pipe portion 18 forms a swirling flow of liquid that flows circumferentially along the inner wall of the riser pipe 10 forming the space 15b, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. , It is preferable to supply the liquid into the space 15b.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a modified example of the gas-liquid separation tank. In FIG. 5, the lift pipe portion 18 is shown in a simplified manner with a different dimension from the lift pipe portion shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a view showing the gas-liquid separation tank of FIG. 5 as viewed from above.
In the examples shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the upper end of the lift pipe portion 18 is provided with a tip portion 18c extending so as to be orthogonal to the portion of the lift pipe portion 18 extending in the vertical direction. The tip portion 18c is provided with a supply port 18b for supplying the liquid flowing through the lift pipe portion 18 into the space 15b.
The swirling flow that flows circumferentially along the inner wall of the riser tube 10 flows in the direction indicated by the arc-shaped arrow (circumferential direction) in the example shown in FIG. Such a swirling flow is formed by supplying a liquid into the space 15b in a direction in which the lift pipe portion 18 includes a component in the tangential direction T of the swirling flow flow path, as shown in FIG. To. The tangential direction T of the swirling flow path is the tangential direction of the circle centered on the center O of the columnar space 15b in the example shown in FIG.
When such a swirling flow is formed, a centrifugal force acting from the center O of the swirling flow to the outside acts on the liquid containing bubbles supplied in the space 15b. As a result, due to the difference in specific gravity between the liquid and the gas, the liquid moves to the side (outside) away from the center O of the swirling flow, and the bubbles are collected on the side (inside) approaching the center O of the swirling flow. Some of the bubbles collected inside are easily separated from the liquid because the bubbles are integrated with each other and become large, so that they easily float on the liquid surface. Therefore, the gas-liquid separation performance of the system 1 is further improved.

The means for creating the swirling flow described above is not limited to the lift pipe portion 18 of the form shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
For example, as in the example of the lift pipe portion 18 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lift pipe portion can be formed by only the portion extending in the vertical direction. FIG. 7 shows the tip (supply port 18b) of the lift pipe portion 18 shown in FIG. 3 as a top view.
When the spiral flow path is interrupted at the tip position of the pickup pipe portion 18, the liquid is discharged in the direction along the flow path at the interrupted position (the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 7). Therefore, the tip of the lift pipe portion 18 is configured and arranged in the space 15b so that the direction along the spiral flow path indicated by the arrow A and the flow direction of the swirling flow described above coincide with each other. Then, the liquid discharged from the supply port 18b can create a swirling flow in the space 15b.

Further, as in the example shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the lift pipe portion 18 has a tip portion 18c extending in a direction intersecting the portion extending in the vertical direction, the tip portion 18c is also spiral. It is preferable that the flow path is formed. In this case, it is preferable that the spiral flow path is further interrupted at the supply port 18b as described above. By configuring and arranging such a tip portion 18c so that the liquid is discharged upward and toward the center O side in the space 15b, the tip portion 18c is swiveled with a spiral flow as shown in FIG. You can make a flow. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the liquid in the gas-liquid separation tank 20, and shows the flow of the liquid when the cross section of the space 15b passing through the center O of the swirling flow is viewed.
In the swirling flow of the example shown in FIG. 8, an upward flow is generated on the outside of the space 15b, and a downward flow is generated on the inside. As described above, when a swirling flow is created in the space 15b, the bubbles are collected inside, so that the downward flow is generated inside the space 15b, so that the residence time of the bubbles becomes long and the bubbles are combined. By facilitating, the bubbles are more likely to float and further separate from the liquid.

Therefore, as one embodiment, a natural gas production method for producing gas by decomposing gas hydrate in the ground can be realized as follows.
Natural gas outside the riser tube 10 that has a tip 10a buried in the ground and uses the pressure at the tip 10a generated in the riser tube 10 by the liquid in the riser tube 10 extending upward from the tip 10a. Reduces the pressure acting on gas hydrate.
Next, a gas-liquid mixture containing bubbles generated by decomposition from the natural gas hydrate by the reduced pressure acting on the natural gas hydrate is introduced into the riser tube 10 through the hole 18a opened to the outside of the riser tube 10. Incorporate into the liquid of.
The pump 23 is used to suck up the liquid in the riser pipe 10 and discharge it to the outside of the riser pipe 10.
When taking out natural gas, the lift pipe portion 18 at the tip portion 10a is used to allow the liquid to flow upward while swirling around a straight line extending upward, and the riser pipe 10 is flown from the lift pipe portion 18. Supply the liquid inside,
In the discharge step, the liquid supplied into the riser pipe 10 is sucked up from the lift pipe portion 18.

In this natural gas production method, the liquid containing air bubbles taken into the riser pipe flows upward through the pipe portion at the tip portion, is supplied into the riser pipe, and is sucked up by a pump. At this time, since the liquid containing bubbles flows in the pipe portion while swirling around a straight line extending upward, a centrifugal force acts on the liquid containing bubbles due to the difference in specific gravity between the liquid and the gas. , The liquid moves away from the straight line (outside), and the bubbles are collected on the side approaching the straight line (inside). Some of the bubbles collected inside are easily separated from the liquid because the bubbles are united (combined) and become large, so that they easily float on the liquid surface.

In this way, since the ability to separate gas and liquid (gas-liquid separation performance) is improved, the mixing of gas into the liquid introduced into the pump is suppressed. As a result, the amount of liquid discharged by the pump is stable, the height of the liquid level in the riser pipe is stable, and the pressure (pit pressure) at the tip of the riser pipe is less likely to fluctuate. Therefore, the pressure acting on the gas hydrate is less likely to fluctuate, and gas production can be stably performed.

When taking out the natural gas, it is preferable to use the lift pipe portion 18 extending linearly upward to spirally flow the liquid along the inner wall of the lift pipe portion 18.

When the natural gas is taken out, the liquid is further formed from the lift pipe portion 18 into the space 15b so that a swirling flow of the liquid flowing around the inner wall is formed in the space surrounded by the inner wall of the riser pipe 10. Is preferably supplied. When such a swirling flow is formed, a centrifugal force acting from the center of the swirling flow to the outside acts on the liquid containing bubbles supplied in the space 15b. As a result, due to the difference in specific gravity between the liquid and the gas, the liquid moves to the side away from the center of the swirling flow (outside), and the bubbles are collected on the side approaching the center of the swirling flow (inside). Some of the bubbles collected inside are easily separated from the liquid because the bubbles are integrated with each other and become large, so that they easily float on the liquid surface. Therefore, the gas-liquid separation performance is further improved.

Although the gas production system and the gas production method of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various improvements and changes may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

1 Gas production system 2 Submarine 3 Excavator 4 Upper layer 5 Hydrate layer 7 Well 10 Riser pipe 10a Tip 11 Pipe body 12 Gas generation line 13 Liquid discharge line 14 Liquid transport pipe 15a Space 16 Pipe 17a, 17b, 17c Partition 18 Lift pipe part 18c Tip part of lift pipe part 20 Gas-liquid separation tank 23 Pump 24 Motor 25 Screw 26 Heater 31 Pressure gauge 40 Control device 50 Flow path forming member 51 Shaft 52 Blade 53 Inclined wall 54 Hollow region 55 Flow path Forming part

Claims (5)

A system that produces gas by decomposing gas hydrate in the ground.
A long tube having a tip configured to be buried in the ground, a gas hide outside the tube using the pressure generated by the liquid in the tube extending upward from the tip. By reducing the pressure acting on the rate, a gas-liquid mixture containing bubbles generated by decomposition from the gas hydrate is provided at the tip of the pipe and outside the pipe so as to be taken into the liquid in the pipe. A riser tube with an open hole and
A pump that sucks up the liquid in the riser pipe and discharges it to the outside of the riser pipe is provided.
The tip has a lift tube configured for the liquid to flow upward while swirling around a straight line extending upward.
The pump on up suck the liquid supplied to the riser pipe from the AgeOsamukan,
The lift pipe has the holes, is thinner than the portion of the riser pipe to which the liquid is supplied, extends linearly upward, and the liquid spirals along the inner wall of the lift pipe. It is configured to form a flow path to
A gas production system characterized in that the height position at which the lift pipe supplies the liquid into the riser pipe is higher than the height position at which the liquid is sucked up by the pump . A system that produces gas by decomposing gas hydrate in the ground.
A long tube having a tip configured to be buried in the ground, a gas hide outside the tube using the pressure generated by the liquid in the tube extending upward from the tip. By reducing the pressure acting on the rate, a gas-liquid mixture containing bubbles generated by decomposition from the gas hydrate is provided at the tip of the pipe and outside the pipe so as to be taken into the liquid in the pipe. A riser tube with an open hole and
A pump that sucks up the liquid in the riser pipe and discharges it to the outside of the riser pipe is provided.
The tip portion has the hole and is thinner than the portion of the riser pipe to which the liquid is supplied, and extends linearly upward, and the liquid extends upward. It has a lift pipe that is configured to flow upward while swirling around a straight line.
The lift pipe is formed with a flow path through which the liquid flows spirally along the inner wall of the lift pipe, and is upward inward in the radial direction of the lift pipe with respect to the flow path. An inclined wall is provided that protrudes radially inward from the inner wall of the lift pipe and spirally extends around a straight line passing through the radial center of the lift pipe so as to form an extending cavity region.
The height of the inclined wall protruding from the inner wall is longer than 1/4 of the inner diameter of the lift pipe.
The gas production system, wherein the pump sucks up the liquid supplied from the pickup pipe into the riser pipe. The riser tube includes a space surrounded by an inner wall of the riser tube.
Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the lift pipe supplies the liquid into the space so that a swirling flow of the liquid flowing around the inner wall of the riser pipe is formed in the space. The gas production system described. It is a method of producing gas by decomposing gas hydrate in the ground.
A step of reducing the pressure acting on the gas hydrate outside the tube by using the pressure generated by the liquid in the riser tube which has a tip buried in the ground and extends upward from the tip.
A gas-liquid mixture containing bubbles generated from the gas hydrate decomposed by the reduced pressure acting on the gas hydrate is taken into the liquid in the riser tube through a hole opened outside the riser tube. , The step of extracting gas from the bubbles,
A step of sucking up the liquid in the riser tube and discharging it to the outside of the riser tube by using a pump is provided.
In the step of taking out the gas, a lift pipe having the holes and thinner than the portion of the riser pipe to which the liquid is supplied, which extends linearly upward and extends upward. Using the lift pipe at the tip, which is configured to allow the liquid to flow upward while swirling around, the liquid is allowed to flow upward while swirling around a straight line extending upward. , The liquid is supplied from the lift pipe into the riser pipe.
Wherein in the step of discharging, on up suck the liquid supplied to the riser pipe from the AgeOsamukan,
The lift pipe is formed with a flow path through which the liquid flows spirally along the inner wall of the lift pipe, and is upward inward in the radial direction of the lift pipe with respect to the flow path. An inclined wall is provided that protrudes radially inward from the inner wall of the lift pipe and spirally extends around a straight line passing through the radial center of the lift pipe so as to form an extending cavity region.
A gas production method characterized in that the height of protrusion of the inclined wall from the inner wall is longer than the length of 1/4 of the inner diameter of the lift pipe . In the step of taking out the gas, the liquid from the lift pipe is further formed in the space surrounded by the inner wall of the riser pipe so that the swirling flow of the liquid flowing around the inner wall is formed. The gas production method according to claim 4 , wherein the liquid is supplied to the vehicle.

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