Optimization of gathering pipeline network topology in rolling development of old oilfields

The layout optimization model for rolling development of gathering pipeline network was built against the problem of network topology changes caused by the increasing wellheads in old blocks and the new wells addition in new blocks in the late development of old oil fields. Taking into consideration the constraints of pipeline hydraulics and metering capacity of metering stations in the model, the improved Prime algorithm was adopted to solve the model with the shortest total length of newly-constructed pipelines as the objective function, and therefore complete the topology optimization of the pipeline network in the rolling development process of the old oil fields. Finally, the connection structure of the pipeline network in the rolling development of an old oil field was calculated, and the optimized topology structure of the gathering pipeline network, the length of new pipelines, the location and number of new metering stations were obtained. After comparing and analyzing the optimization results with the literature, the applicability and reliability of the model and algorithm were well verified that they could provide relevant guidance for the design of the gathering pipeline network in the rolling development of the old oil field.