Chaotic dynamics induced by anti-slug control in offshore oil production plants

The dynamic behavior of an offshore oil production plant obtained through an anti-slug scheme based on a feedback PI control was studied. Three different SISO control scenarios were evaluated considering different controlled variables and the effect of the PI control constants tuning on the suppression of oscillatory behavior related to the slugging flow phenomenon. It was shown that the PI control, when the pressure at the top of the riser was the controlled variable, was able to induce chaotic oscillations. Additionally, the proper characterization of the chaotic behavior was performed allowing to determine the PI control tuning conditions that favor the appearance of this complex behavior. •Hopf bifurcation point was shifted to higher Choke valve opening using the PI control scheme.•When the pressure at the top of the riser was the control variable, the PI controller was able to produce chaotic oscillations.•Mapping dynamic behaviors and Lyapunov exponents as a function of the PI parameters.