Subsea Processing
The Technological Gaps in Ultradeep Water
4th COPEDI Nov. 11, 2013
Outline
Introduction
Subsea Equipment (Pumps, Separators, Compressors, etc.)
Enablers (Power supply, Control Systems, etc.)
Current Status of Technology and UDW Gaps
The Way Forward to Subsea Factory
Summary
Offshore Deep Water Production Contribution
Offshore 35% of world production
Production Increase in less than 15 years from 0.5 to 5.5 MMb/d in 2012
By 2020 another 4 MM b/d could be flowing from Deep Water
World Offshore Oil & Gas Production Regions
New Oil & gas fields being discovered in:
Ultra deepwater fields in GoM, Brazil and West Africa (2500 - 3500m wd)
More remote areas from host facilities or shore ( >200 kms)
Challenging climatic and metoceanic and harsh environment conditions
(Colder temperature and corrosive conditions)
Fields located in larger part of offshore Norway, as well as the
Northwest Shelf offshore Australia, Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, West Africa
and Artic Region
Why Subsea Processing Technology?
Increased and/or accelerated
recovery compared to traditional
production facilities
Reduced both CAPEX and OPEX
Flow assurance (hydrates, water)
Operational flexibility for all
phases of field life cycle
Potential benefits:
To increase recovery up to 20%.
To reduce capital and operating costs up to 40% and 50% respectively.
What Subsea Processing Technology?
Manipulating the well stream at seafloor between wellhead and
host using onshore processing technologies.
Subsea Processing Elements
Boosting (Pumping)
Single
Multiphase
Enablers:
Power Supply and Distribution
Monitoring and control
Separation
Gas/liquid separation
Oil/water
Sand handling
Water injection
Compression
Dry gas
Wet gas
Varios Sources
Figure 3 Subsea Processing Applications
(Various source)
Subsea Boosting
Pump Types and Applications
Most used are Helico - axial, and ESP
Source: Offshore magazine-Worldwide Survey of Subsea Processing: Separation, Compression, and Pumping Systems, Mar., 2013
Subsea Separation
Type:
Gravity separation system
Caisson separation systems
Compact/dynamic
Pipe
Focused on
2-phase Gas - Liquid
Water for injection
Sand Handling
Subsea Separation
Very few active projects
Troll C pilot > for 130 months in operation.
Recent notable success in Pazflor
(Source: Offshore magazine-Worldwide Survey of Subsea Processing: Separation, Compression, and Pumping Systems, Mar., 2013)
Subsea Water Injection
Troll C Pilot and Tordis projects both injected the water relatively in a
shallow disposal zone
Marlim planned to inject water in a deeper layer
(Source: Offshore magazine-Worldwide Survey of Subsea Processing: Separation, Compression, and Pumping Systems, Mar., 2013)
Subsea Compression
Statoil K-Lab Test (Norway) hosted the first demo pilot test
Ormen Lange Gas Compression Pilot: Installed at Test Site (Nyhamna)
Field Implementation is foreseen in:
Various sources
Power Supply
Power distribution is the key enabler
for subsea processing equipment.
Developments
Pressurized frequency converters
Pressure on insulation material lifetime
Power transmission distances > 100 km
Various sources
Figure 7. Supply and managing electrical
power
to subsea processing systems as significant
Control and Monitoring
Multi-phase Meters
for all types of field conditions, covering the full operating range of
0 -100% water cut and 0 - 100% gas fraction.
Ability to mix effects and velocity profiles and to detect changes in
fluid composition.
To operate at pressures and temperatures of up to 10,000 psi and
300 F for at least 20 continuous years.
Wireless Technology
Fiber-optic (FO) communications, enables ultra-long
tiebacks.
Current Status Technology
Subsea Boosting (Pumping) accepted mature technology
Separation and water injection are evolving technology
Subsea Compression is emerging Technology
Various sources
Milestones in 2013
Deepwater applications < 2.7 Kms
Tie back distances expected to reach 120 kms
Differential pressure to 320 bars
sgard field, first gas compression project
Various sources
The Technological Gaps
in Ultradeep Water
Subsea Units
> 200 kms multiphase of complex fluids transport
> 3 kms water depth
Enablers
Energy/power supply
Control and Monitoring
Technology Developments: Subsea Units
There is a need to further R&D:
More compact including marinized and miniaturized HIPPs equipments
Reliability, ease of intervention and maintenance
Large pressure differential and volume Pump
High capacity, and energy efficiency Subsea wet gas compression
Discharge of Produced Water and Solids
Water and heavy oil separation
New materials including nanotechnology
Flow assurance Optimal processing efficiency
Downhole and In-Line Gas Compression
Source: www.corac.co.uk/home)
Technology Developments: Enablers
Remote control and monitoring
More Monitoring and sensing to allow for proper operational control for
highly instrumented subsea production equipment
Power Supply and Distribution
Source (Local, Onshore)
Insulation materials
Dynamic umbilical
AC/DC power conversion
Source: Offshore Magazine, Vol. 71, 2011
The Way Forward to Subsea Factory
Maturity / Limits of technology
Accelerate uptake use of new technology
Mental barriers perceptions ?
R&D
Share risk in piloting of solutions
Various Sources
Subsea Factory Towards
Reserves and Production Growth
Summary
Offshore Oil and gas development advances into ultra
deep waters
There will be many subsea processing applications as the
technology matures and gathers more widespread
acceptance.
Continue and strengthen R&D efforts to overcome the
Technological Gaps and to reduce risks and increase
business opportunities.
The concept of subsea factory, an expression created by
Statoil, may be a reality by 2020s decade.
