Practical example of data integration in a PRM environment, BC-10, Brazil

Abstract

Deepwater developments always represent a huge capital investment, and this is especially true when the field in question is instrumented with Permanent Reservoir Monitoring (PRM). These massive financial outlays demand optimum efficiency to maximize the return on investment. This means taking full advantage of the value in the large volumes of time-lapse seismic data collected. In this paper, we examine enhanced workflows and solutions for optimizing the utility of Permanent Reservoir Monitoring data in a deepwater setting. We do this by fully integrating these data into our subsurface models and decision making in a rapid, thorough, and quantitative fashion. Parque das Conchas (BC-10) represents a major milestone in the development and commercialization of Brazil’s deep water. The project consists of several distinct small-to-medium-sized fields in the Campos Basin that allow for phasing. The fields have been developed using subsea wells and manifolds, all of which are connected to a centrally located floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, the Espirito Santo (Figure 1). The Espirito Santo FPSO, which has a processing capacity of 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d), was built by SBM in Singapore and delivered to Brazil in late 2008 being moored in around 1800 m of water. The double-hulled FPSO’s design required significant power and heat delivery systems to drive the seabed lift equipment and process the heavy crudes. This development is the first of its kind based on full subsea oil and gas separation and subsea pumping. This system uses 1500-horsepower underwater pumps – each equivalent to a Formula One engine – to drive oil and a small quantity of gas to the surface.