Abstract
Abstract The Prudhoe Bay Field on Alaska's North Slope has produced for twenty-one years. Prudhoe's gas and water production rates are at historic highs, but the oil production rate has declined to less than one-half of the peak rate achieved in the 1980's. As a result, significant excess oil treating capacity exists, with water and gas handling capacity constraining the current oil production rate. The owners of the Prudhoe Bay Unit ("PBU") developed a major facility consolidation plan in 1997 designed to rationalize this excess oil treating capacity while preserving existing gas and water handling capacity. The reconfigured facilities are expected to provide sufficient capacity at a lower cost to accommodate projected oil, water and gas production rates over the remaining life of the Prudhoe Bay Field. This paper describes the Prudhoe Bay Surface Facility Optimization Project, from conceptual engineering initiatives in 1996. through preliminary engineering, economic justification, attainment of support from operations personnel and approval by the working interest owners of the Prudhoe Bay Field. Technical challenges and the challenges of projecting benefits associated with the consolidations were resolved through networking and technical discussions throughout the BPX, ARCO and Exxon world-wide organizations. The ultimate approval of the plan by the PBU Working Interest Owners is a clear example of teamwork and information sharing on a global scale. P. 275
Published Version
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