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The objective of this article is the analysys of methods for preventing and eliminating hydrates formations, classifying them and choosing the best ones for use in underground gas storage facilities. Comprehensive measures for the stable operation of gas storage facilities in the presence of conditions for the occurrence of hydrates formations were developed. Zones, being potentially prone to the hydrates formation during the gas storage facilities operation were identified. The operational parameters of gas storage wells during gas withdrawal are analyzed. The identified wells were operated under difficult conditions due to the deposition of hydrates on the wellheads, in flowlines and process equipment of gas storage facilities. The places of the highest hydrates accumulation on underground gas storages were determined: from the bottomhole of wells to the gas purification unit of the gas gathering station. Hydrate-prone zones were identified by computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling at the location of regulating choke installations in underground gas storage facilities. The zones of the greatest hydrates accumulation on underground gas storages were determined: from the bottomhole of wells to the gas purification unit of the gas gathering station. The analysis of the methods used in gas storage facilities of Ukraine to prevent and eliminate hydrates formation was out. A set of measures was proposed to prevent the hydrates formation in storage facilities to ensure their stable operation. Based on the Euler approach (Mixture model) by CFD modeling, zones prone to hydrates formation were determined at the installation site of regulating chokes in underground gas storages. The influence of the degree of fittings opening on the location of potential zones prone to hydrates formation was estimated. The gas-dynamic processes in the internal cavity of the gas pipeline at the installation site of the control fittings were studied and their influence on the distribution of bulk particles of the gaseous and liquid phases was established. Based on the studies performed, it was recommended to change periodically the mode of well operation for a certain time by opening or closing the regulating choke under favorable conditions for the formation of hydrates, especially at low ambient temperatures. The obtained results of experimental studies and calculations showed that in order to solve the problem of hydrates formation at gas storage facilities, it is advisable to use diverse measures through the introduction of modern intelligent systems for monitoring and controlling the technological process. Further refinement of the algorithm of the proposed monitoring and control system with its approbation in production was provided. The results of the experimental studies and CFD modeling carried out allowed providing a more reasonable approach to the application of various available methods and measures to prevent hydrates formation in underground gas storage facilities. This approach made it possible to develop new effective ways and measures to prevent such complication. Based on the conducted experimental studies and modeling, the major zones prone to hydrates formation in underground gas storages were determined. The developed measures will allow timely detection and prevention of hydrates formation at gas storage facilities are original.

The article presents the theoretical research of the use of swirling flows with reverse jets and with developed precessing vortex core in cavitators and other devices. While describing the motion of the vortex core in the free swirling jet of the fluid it is necessary to take into account that according to the experimental data the vortex core can swirl along the length of the jet and moves around the jet axis in the zone between the area of reverse flows and the boundary outer layer. In this case, it is the vortex core which is under the influence of the basic swirling flow. Herewith, it is necessary to take into account that due to commensurate sizes of the vortex core and the jet, the impact on the core will be different owing to non-uniform distribution of speeds in the jet itself. On the basis of the known formulas, the authors have deduced the improved theoretical dependence of the degree of flow swirl on the flow rate, the vortex core vibration frequency and structural parameters under the conditions of the consistency of swirling flow itself. The theoretical dependence shows that the degree of flow swirl is directly proportional to the precessing vortex core vibration frequency and inversely proportional to the square of mass flow rate. Thus, ensuring the consistency of the swirling flow with varying flow-rate requires the corresponding change of the swirl degree or the influence on the frequency of vibrations of the precessing vortex core. On the basis of the deduced theoretical dependences, the authors have developed and implemented in the computer programs the following calculations: the dependence of the coefficient of the flow swirl on the vortex core vibration frequency; the simulation of the precession of the vortex core in the swirling flow; the research of speed fluctuation in the swirling flow; speed fluctuation during the interaction of swirling jets.

The purpose is to consider the complications that arise during the operation of gas condensate wells, in particular, the accumulation of liquid contamination. Development of new approaches to improve the efficiency of the separation equipment performance of gas gathering and treatment systems when a multiphase flow enters. Development of a foam breaking method in a gas-liquid flow after removal of liquid contaminants from wells and flowlines using surfactants. An analysis was made of the complications that may arise when removing liquid contaminants from wells and flowlines using surfactants. Measures have been developed that will make it possible to timely prevent the ingress of foam into the separation equipment of gas gathering and treatment systems. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling, an effective foam-breaking device was developed by supplying stable hydrocarbon condensate. A method to minimize the negative impact of foam on the operation of separation equipment after fluid removal from wells and gas condensate field flowlines using a surfactant solution was elaborated. A method for its breaking was proposed to prevent the flow of foam into the gas processing unit. This method foresees the application of the technological scheme layout for supplying a stable hydrocarbon condensate to a gas-liquid flow entering the separators of the first of separation, both the main line and the measuring line. CFD modelling was used to study the process of foam breaking by feeding hydrocarbon condensate into it. The influence of the hydrocarbon condensate supplying method on gas-dynamic processes (distribution of pressure, velocity, volumetric particles of phases), and the efficiency of foam breaking was estimated. It was established that the supply of hydrocarbon condensate from one branch pipe to the pipeline through which the foam moved did not ensure its complete breaking. To increase the efficiency of foam breaking, a device with designed four nozzles for supplying hydrocarbon condensate was developed. CFD modelling made it possible to substantiate that in this case, a pressure reduction zone appeared at the place of condensate supply. Because of a sharp change in pressure, a strong improvement in the effect of foam breaking occurred. The understanding of the regularities of foam breaking processes by hydrocarbon condensate was obtained, and the design of a device for the complete foam breaking was developed. The obtained results of laboratory studies have shown that a sharp decrease in the stability of the foam occurs under the condition of an increase in the volume of stable hydrocarbon condensate added to the studied model of mineralized formation water. Based on the results of CFD modeling, a device for breaking foam by stable hydrocarbon condensate has been worked out, the effectiveness of which will be confirmed experimentally and in field conditions. The results of the performed laboratory studies and CFD modelling allow a more reasonable approach to using various available methods and measures to prevent the ingress of foam with a gas-liquid flow into the separation equipment of gas gathering and treatment systems. This approach makes it possible to develop new effective ways and measures to prevent this complication. Based on CFD modelling, it was found that when a stable hydrocarbon condensate is supplied into a gas-liquid flow, foam breaks. A method for breaking foam in a gas-liquid flow has been developed, which is original and can be introduced in practice.

The authors consider the technology of intensification of the rock failure during the drilling of the wells using the substantiation of physico-mechanical, cavitation and technological processes. Further development of the mechanism of rock failure due to the created cavitation processes, the manifestation of which is possible at the well bottom when drilling with modern types of drill bits, is an important scientific and technical problem. The solution of this problem will significantly increase the efficiency and reliability of drilling the wells. The development of the mechanism is of great practical importance for oil-and-gas industry. The authors have further developed the mechanisms of rock failure during drilling, which allow to take into account as constant actions both the mechanical effect of the drill bit cutting structure on the rock and the cavitation effect of the cooling flushing fluid on the bottom-hole surface. For the first time it has been proved that cavitation-impulse treatment of a bottom during drilling allows to evaluate the erosion effect of cavitation at various distances from the cavitator, taking into account dissipative losses, and to increase the proportion of energy directed to the rock. For the first time, the possibility of choosing the most optimal mode of cavitation-impulse load at the bottom of a well has been substantiated. To evaluate the effectiveness of the cavitation-pulsation washing technology, analytical dependencies have been proposed. Those dependencies allow to predict the frequency distribution of energy from the collapse of cavitation bubbles created by the cavitator at the bottom of the well. It allows to control actively the process of cavitation-impulse impact on rocks in course of their failure during drilling. The authors provide characteristics that show the cavitation-pulsation process fully. Thus, these characteristics allow to evaluate the effectiveness of the process in the rocks failure at the bottom-hole more accurately. When conducting cavitation-impulse treatment of the bottomhole, in order to create artificial cracking, the load mode, namely the distribution of the load energy over frequency ranges, is of importance. To expand the area of the cavitation-impulse treatment of ​​the rock mass, it is necessary to form such loads that the main part of the energy is concentrated in the low frequency range. With the increase of the distance from the perturbance source (cavitator) low frequencies attenuate less in comparison with high frequencies. In order to choose the most optimal mode of cavitation-impulse load on the bottom hole, the distribution of energy over various frequency ranges in the process of the spread of cavitation-impulse effect on a rock massif has been studied. The suggested analytical dependencies allow to predict the frequency distribution of energy which is released when the cavitation bubbles collapse at the bottom-hole. It gives a possibility to control the process of cavitation-impulse effect on rocks in the process of their failure during drilling.