Offshore field developments usually conceive that the dry tree wells (DTW) have less flow assurance challenges when compared with subsea development options. The relatively short vertical flow path for the DTW production risers causes fewer issues with respect to hydrate and wax management; however, the DTWs have particular flow assurance challenges due to dry tree well platforms design constraints. This extended abstract presents the various flow assurance challenges associated with the design and operation of DTWs for deepwater gas-condensate field developments, including:
the impact of production riser annulus thermal behaviour and soil modelling uncertainties on the topsides materials selection;
the coupling of low temperature propagation and cold liquid management issues topsides during cold well start-up; and,
the narrow operating window to establish the forward flow for the downstream systems following cold well start-up.
The absence of the capacity provided by subsea pipelines and flowlines, thus, leads to the requirement for integrated consideration of the DTWs and downstream topsides and potentially pipeline systems. The coupling for low temperature and liquid management issues, particularly for transient operations, requires rigorous flow assurance analysis. This extended abstract summarises the analytical solutions developed, applying the advanced flow assurance tools available, by considering the operating constraints, with the downstream process and export systems, to determine practical design solutions and operating philosophies.