Debottlenecking of Mature Field Production through the Use of Very Compact and Efficient Separation Equipment, Topside or Subsea

Abstract

Abstract In the past decade the use of very compact processing equipment, sometimes referred to as ‘Inline separation equipment’ has become more and more popular. In a number of cases, it has been possible to successfully de-bottleneck severely restricted process systems through the use of inline equipment. Successful examples on for instance Statoil platforms like those of Statfjord have been well documented. However, compact separation technologies have not yet been able to gain general acceptance as standard building blocks for new process systems, or to take it one step further, have not yet been able make classical separation technologies obsolete. The perceived operational disadvantages of inline equipment consist of it 1) being relative intolerant to variations in operating conditions (restricted turndown range) and 2) being complex equipment to design as no accurate, generic design rules exist. Moreover, most inline equipment is customized for a specific application. This paper will highlight the development of a new generation of inline separation equipment. The new equipment is characterized by a much more efficient swirl generation. The principle of operation of most compact separation equipment is based on creating strong centrifugal forces that drive the separation of the well fluids. It is shown that the more efficient generation of this driving force creates much wider turn down ranges of critical operating conditions. It is described how rigorous performance mapping has taken and still takes place under realistic operating conditions (both regarding scale and physical characteristics of test fluids) to prevent the design uncertainties that have sometimes hindered the correct application of these technologies today. An example will be presented how these new inline components of which the performance characteristics are now well known can form an extremely compact process system with a pronounced tolerance against transient operating conditions (like slugging).