Optimization Applied to Buzios Flexible Riser Systems and Subsea Layout

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinicius Gasparetto ◽  
Thierry Hernalsteens ◽  
Joao Francisco Fleck Heck Britto ◽  
Joab Flavio Araujo Leao ◽  
Thiago Duarte Fonseca Dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Capital Expenditure ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Internal Diameter ◽  
Flexible Riser ◽  
Flexible Pipe ◽  
Injection Wells ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Field Development

Abstract Buzios is a super-giant ultra-deep-water pre-salt oil and gas field located in the Santos Basin off Brazil's Southeastern coast. There are four production systems already installed in the field. Designed to use flexible pipes to tie back the production and injection wells to the FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading), these systems have taken advantage from several lessons learned in the previous projects installed by Petrobras in Santos Basin pre-salt areas since 2010. This knowledge, combined with advances in flexible pipe technology, use of long-term contracts and early engagement with suppliers, made it possible to optimize the field development, minimizing the risks and reducing the capital expenditure (CAPEX) initially planned. This paper presents the first four Buzios subsea system developments, highlighting some of the technological achievements applied in the field, as the first wide application of 8" Internal Diameter (ID) flexible production pipes for ultra-deep water, leading to faster ramp-ups and higher production flowrates. It describes how the supply chain strategy provided flexibility to cover the remaining project uncertainties, and reports the optimizations carried out in flexible riser systems and subsea layouts. The flexible risers, usually installed in lazy wave configurations at such water depths, were optimized reducing the total buoyancy necessary. For water injection and service lines, the buoyancy modules were completely removed, and thus the lines were installed in a free-hanging configuration. Riser configuration optimizations promoted a drop of around 25% on total riser CAPEX and allowed the riser anchor position to be placed closer to the floating production unit, promoting opportunities for reducing the subsea tieback lengths. Standardization of pipe specifications and the riser configurations allowed the projects to exchange the lines, increasing flexibility and avoiding riser interference in a scenario with multiple suppliers. Furthermore, Buzios was the first ultra-deep-water project to install a flexible line, riser, and flowline, with fully Controlled Annulus Solution (CAS). This system, developed by TechnipFMC, allows pipe integrity management from the topside, which reduces subsea inspections. As an outcome of the technological improvements and the optimizations applied to the Buzios subsea system, a vast reduction in subsea CAPEX it was achieved, with a swift production ramp-up.

Study on the Characteristics of Well Completion Technology in Deepwater Oil and Gas Field Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (8) ◽  
pp. 70-72
Author(s):  
Jianbo Hu ◽  
◽  
Yifeng Di ◽  
Qisheng Tang ◽  
Ren Wen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Marine Research ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Research Technology ◽  
Well Completion ◽  
Development Capacity ◽  
Exploration And Development

In recent years, China has made certain achievements in shallow sea petroleum geological exploration and development, but the exploration of deep water areas is still in the initial stage, and the water depth in the South China Sea is generally 500 to 2000 meters, which is a deep water operation area. Although China has made some progress in the field of deep-water development of petroleum technology research, but compared with the international advanced countries in marine science and technology, there is a large gap, in the international competition is at a disadvantage, marine research technology and equipment is relatively backward, deep-sea resources exploration and development capacity is insufficient, high-end technology to foreign dependence. In order to better develop China's deep-sea oil and gas resources, it is necessary to strengthen the development of drilling and completion technology in the oil industry drilling engineering. This paper briefly describes the research overview, technical difficulties, design principles and main contents of the completion technology in deepwater drilling and completion engineering. It is expected to have some significance for the development of deepwater oil and gas fields in China.

DEEPWATER GAS FIELD PRODUCTION FROM SUBSEA WELLS INTO COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS CARRIERS THROUGH A HYBRID RISER TOWER

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
J-F. Saint-Marcoux ◽  
C. White ◽  
G.O. Hovde
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Eddy Currents ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Concept Design ◽  
Vertical Load ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Compressed Natural Gas ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Field Production

This paper addresses the feasibility of developing an ultra-deepwater gas field by producing directly from subsea wells into Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Carrier ships. Production interruptions will be avoided as two Gas Production Storage Shuttle (GPSS) vessels storing CNG switch out roles between producing/storing via one of two Submerged Turret Production (STP) buoys and transport CNG to a remote offloading buoy. This paper considers the challenges associated with a CNG solution for an ultra-deepwater field development and the specific issues related to the risers. A Hybrid Riser Tower (HRT) concept design incorporating the lessons learned from the Girassol experience allows minimisation of the vertical load on the STP buoys. The production switchover system from one GPSS to the other is located at the top of the HRT. High-pressure flexible flowlines with buoyancy connect the flow path at the top of HRT to both STP buoys. System fabrication and installation issues, as well as specific met ocean conditions of the GOM, such as eddy currents, have been addressed. The HRT concept can be also used for tiebacks to floating LNG plants.

Improving the Efficiency of Oil and Gas Field Development by Optimizing the Operation of Injection Wells (Russian)

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Ridel ◽  
A. S. Margarit ◽  
R. A. Garfoullina ◽  
V. A. Mazhar ◽  
M. A. Almukhametov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Injection Wells ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Oil And Gas Field

Lateral Buckling of Armor Wires in Flexible Pipes: Reaching 3000m Water Depth

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Secher ◽  
Fabrice Bectarte ◽  
Antoine Felix-Henry
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
External Pressure ◽  
Internal Diameter ◽  
Flexible Pipe ◽  
Lateral Buckling ◽  
Flexible Pipes ◽  
Valid Solution ◽  
Sour Service ◽  
Water Depths

This paper presents the latest progress on the armor wires lateral buckling phenomena with the qualification of flexible pipes for water depths up to 3,000m. The design challenges specific to ultra deep water are governed by the effect of the external pressure: Armor wires lateral buckling is one of the failure modes that needs to be addressed when the flexible pipe is empty and subject to dynamic curvature cycling. As a first step, the lateral buckling mechanism is described and driving parameters are discussed. Then, the program objective is presented together with flexible pipe designs: - Subsea dynamic Jumpers applications; - Sweet and Sour Service; - Internal diameters up to 11″. Dedicated flexible pipe components were selected to address the severe loading conditions encountered in water depths up to 3,000m. Hydrostatic collapse resistance was addressed by a thick inner carcass layer and a PSI pressure vault. Armor wires lateral buckling was addressed by the design and industrialization of new tensile armor wires. The pipe samples were manufactured using industrial production process in the factories in France and Brazil. The available testing protocols are then presented discussing their advantages and drawbacks. For this campaign, a combination of Deep Immersion Performances (DIP) tests and tests in hyperbaric chambers was selected. The DIP test campaign was performed End 2009 beginning 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico using one of Technip Installation Vessel. These tests replicated the actual design conditions to which a flexible pipe would be subjected during installation and operation. The results clearly demonstrated the suitability of flexible pipes as a valid solution for ultra deep water applications. In addition, the DIP tests results were compared to the tests in hyperbaric chambers giving consistent results. This campaign provided design limitations of the new designs for both 9″ and 11″ internal diameter flexible pipes, in sweet and sour service in water depths up to 3,000m.

Improving the efficiency of oil and gas field development by optimizing the operation of injection wells

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Ridel ◽  
A. S. Margarit ◽  
R. A. Garifoullina ◽  
V. A. Mazhar ◽  
M. A. Almukhametov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Injection Wells ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Field Development ◽  
Oil And Gas Field

LARGE-BORE GAS WELL DESIGN—APPLICATION TO OFFSHORE GAS FIELD DEVELOPMENT

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
F. Thompson ◽  
I. Terziev ◽  
I. Taggart
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Capital Expenditure ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Gas Wells ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Gas Well ◽  
North West ◽  
Field Development ◽  
The North ◽  
Trade Offs

Offshore gas development projects including the North West Shelf of Australia continue to develop new technologies in order to reduce development costs. Given that the number of development wells directly relates to capital expenditure, past attempts have focussed on obtaining higher gas rates out of conventional well designs by carefully managing erosional limits, which, in turn, tend to restrict the use of higher offtake rates.A strategy based on safely flowing gas wells at higher rates results in fewer wells and delays the phasing-in of additional wells, both of which result in economic enhancement. In recent times the industry has increasingly moved to large-bore gas well technology as a means of realising this strategy. Large-bore gas wells are defined as wells equipped with production tubing and flow control devices larger than 7” or 177 mm. Originally developed for land-based operations, this technology is increasingly moving offshore into totally subsea systems. One factor limiting the speed of adoption of this technology is the trade-off that exists between the increased offtake rates offered by large-bore systems and the risks posed by wear due to erosion in and around the wellhead area caused by any solids entrained in the gas stream.The problem becomes more acute when different-sized well designs employ the same wellhead configurations, because the upper wellhead area is usually the critical and limiting wear component.This paper summarises the recent developments in large-bore offshore applications and presents a consistent methodology showing how different gas well designs can be compared using hydraulic and erosional considerations. Additional trade-offs posed by reliable solids monitoring and the adoption of untested wellhead and intervention designs are discussed. In many cases, hybrid designs based on large diameter tubulars but with conventional wellheads may offer a useful balance between higher well rates and adoption of proven technology. The results shown here are directly applicable to alternative well designs presently under consideration for a number of offshore reservoir developments.

Review of Technological Advancements and HSE-Based Safety Model for Deep-Water Human Occupied Vehicles

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 25-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Narayanaswamy Vedachalam ◽  
Gidugu Ananada Ramadass ◽  
Malayath Aravindakshan Atmanand
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
Capital Expenditure ◽  
Mean Time Between Failures ◽  
Safety Integrity Level ◽  
Geological Surveys ◽  
Time Between Failures ◽  
High Resolution Bathymetry ◽  
Safety Systems ◽  
Mean Time ◽  
Safety And Environment

AbstractThis paper reviews the latest advancements in subsea technologies associated with the safety of deep-water human occupied vehicles. Human occupied submersible operations are required for deep-water activities, such as high-resolution bathymetry, biological and geological surveys, search activities, salvage operations, and engineering support for underwater operations. As this involves direct human presence, the system has to be extremely safe and reliable. Based on applicable IEC 61508 Standards for health, safety, and environment (HSE), the safety integrity level requirements for the submersible safety systems are estimated. Safety analyses are done on 10 critical submersible safety systems with the assumption that the submersible is utilized for 10 deep-water missions per year. The results of the analyses are compared with the estimated target HSE requirements, and it is found that, with the present technological maturity and safety-centered design, it is possible to meet the required safety integrity levels. By proper maintenance, it is possible to keep the mean time between failures to more than 9 years. The results presented shall serve as a model for designers to arrive at the required trade-off between the capital expenditure, operating expenditure, and required safety levels.

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