Techbits: Workshop Covers Subsea Processing Issues

Abstract

Techbits An SPE Applied Technology Workshop (ATW) on subsea processing recently took place in Stresa, Italy. The workshop was divided into sessions covering concept development, subsea boosting, subsea compression, subsea power, subsea separation, and operational experience. Each session included topic presentations, question-and-answer sessions, and mini-workshops allowing participants to interact, learn, and share from one another. Subsea processing is allowing increased recovery, lower capital and operating expenses, and health, safety, and environmental (HSE) benefits. Subsea processing success stories are increasing in number and during the workshop participants heard that: Petrobras has extensive experience from subsea electric submersible pumps (ESPs) and has recently applied subsea mudline multiphase pumping (MMP) pumps at the Barracuda field, subsea raw water injection pumps at the Albacora field, horizontal mudline ESP skid at the Espardarte field, and a subsea gas/liquid separation system and an oil/water separation system at the Marlim field. At the Vincent field, Woodside has applied a subsea MPP system, including two off multiphase pumps. The processing system has given accelerated production and increased the availability of topside facilities and will extend the production life of wells. Pazflor’s subsea separation units (SSUs) have been in operation and operator Total considers the project a success for subsea processing. SSUs make topsides facilities easier to operate. Statoil and Shell are confident that the technology can be deployed at Ormen Lange. Rigorous qualification testing, access to good test facilities, and a stepwise development of technologies are important factors to succeed with the implementation of new subsea processing technologies and to mitigate risk. Communication of success stories and a correct allocation of risk for subsea processing technologies are critical to the selection of subsea processing solutions by decision makers. Concrete new subsea separation projects and business cases are relatively few and there seems to be less confidence and some confusion about the maturity of separation technologies. Several suggestions for improvement were discussed during the workshop. Generally, oil companies have confidence in subsea processing solutions, but costs are becoming a serious issue. If costs continue to increase, deployment of new technologies could be hampered.