Drilling technology applied to offshore oil field in the Middle East

Abstract This publication presents how an oil asset unlocked idle production after numerous production upsets and a gas hydrate blockage. It also uses economics to justify facilities enhancement projects for flow assurance. Field F is an offshore oil field with eight subsea wells tied back to a third party FPSO vessel. Field F was shut down for turnaround maintenance in 2015. After the field was brought back online, one of the production wells (F5) failed to flow. An evaluation of the reservoir, well, and facilities data suggested that there was a gas hydrate blockage in the subsea pipeline between the well head and the FPSO vessel. A subsea intervention vessel was then hired to execute a pipeline clean-out operation, which removed the gas hydrate, and restored F5 well oil production. To minimise oil production losses due to flow assurance issues, the asset team evaluated the viability of installing a test pipeline and a second methanol umbilical as facilities enhancement projects. The pipeline clean-out operation delivered 5400 barrels of oil per day production to the asset. The feasibility study suggested that installing a second methanol umbilical and a test pipeline are economically attractive. It is recommended that the new methanol umbilical is installed to guarantee oil flow from F5 and future infill production wells. The test pipeline can be used to clean up new wells, to induce low pressure wells, and for well testing, well sampling, water salinity evaluation, tracer evaluation, and production optimisation. This paper presents production upset diagnosis and remediation steps actioned in a producing oil field, and aids the justification of methanol umbilical capacity upgrade and test pipeline installations as facilities enhancement projects. It also indicates that gas hydrate blockage can be prevented by providing adequate methanol umbilical capacity for timely dosing of oil production wells.

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Subsea Cable Applications in Offshore Oil Field Facilities

10.2118/166558-ms ◽

2013 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xiaodong Liang ◽

John Stevens ◽

Dwayne Kelly

Keyword(s):

Oil Field ◽

Offshore Oil

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Production Optimization over 20% with Artificial Lift ESP Pilot Systems in Mature Oil Field, Case Study from Middle East

10.2118/171917-ms ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Hector Aguilar ◽

Aref Almarzooqi ◽

Tarek Mohamed El Sonbaty ◽

Leigber Villarreal

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Production Optimization ◽

Oil Field ◽

Field Case ◽

Artificial Lift

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Co-Development Plan Optimization of Complex Multiple Reservoirs for Giant Offshore Middle East Oil Field

10.2118/183221-ms ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad Yunus Khan ◽

Anupam Tiwari ◽

Shuichiro Ikeda ◽

Fahad I. Syed ◽

Alunood K. Al Sowaidi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Oil Field ◽

Development Plan ◽

Plan Optimization

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THE FATE OF TWO LARGE OIL SPILLS IN THE ARABIAN GULF

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-1983-1-377 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 1983 (1) ◽

pp. 377-380 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

William J. Lehr ◽

Murat S. Belen

Keyword(s):

Crude Oil ◽

Computer Model ◽

Trajectory Analysis ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Arabian Gulf ◽

Oil Field ◽

Environmental Damage ◽

Unidentified Source ◽

Offshore Oil ◽

Large Sections

ABSTRACT In August and October 1980, two large oil spills occurred in the Arabian Gulf. The first, from an unidentified source, involved about 20,000 barrels of crude oil and impacted the entire north and west coasts of the island nation of Bahrain. The second occurred when the Ron Tapmeyer platform in the Hasbah offshore oil field blew out, releasing an estimated 50,000 barrels of thick crude into the Gulf. The spill subsequently covered large sections of the coastline of Qatar. The fate of the oil from these spills is examined with respect to the unique conditions found in the region. A computer model is used for trajectory analysis of the spills and hypothesizing the possible origin of the first spill. Methods of cleanup and problems with the weathered oil are mentioned. The environmental damage caused by the Bahrain spill is assessed.

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