Can subsea storage game-change
small pools’ facilities challenges?
Graham Whitehead
April 2016
www.nsri.co.uk
Small Pools Hackathons
• 2 events, London & Aberdeen
• >160 delegates, >80 companies represented
• Good OGA & O&G UK & Subsea UK support
• Centrica, EnQuest, Nexen & Maersk case studies
• >200 ideas generated
Operator’s Challenges
Small Pools Hackathon
Fluid Co-mingling
Differential Pressure
Gas Disposal
Low Energy Fields
Hackathon Outputs
Standardisation
Simplification
Plug & Play
CRINE re-visit
Connectors
Hot Taps
Design Attitudes
Flowmeters
Stand-alone concepts
Separation
Subsea storage &
transfer
Flow assurance
Biological cleaning
Subsea Processing
Down-sized EOR
Strategic
Initiatives
Long-Term
Research
Subsea boosting
Short-Term
Efficiencies
www.nsri.co.uk
Potential
JIPs
Subsea Storage is a proven
concept
Thistle
(mid 70s)
Kittiwake
(late 80s)
Harding
(mid 90s)
Siri
(late 90s)
Solan
(early teens)
www.nsri.co.uk
Subsea Storage comes in all
sizes & shapes
Kittiwake
Kongsberg (under qual’n)
www.nsri.co.uk
Siri
Solan
Subsea Storage is a relevant
Opportunity
Limited access to export / transport systems creates
demand
No nearby infrastructure of convenience
Fluid complexity / incompatibility
Field(s) too small to justify export pipeline
Cessation of existing service
www.nsri.co.uk
If it were that simple…
Key Factors for technology advancement
Operation & Uptime
Fabrication & Installation
Process & Design
www.nsri.co.uk
Hackathon Challenges
Fluid Co-mingling
Differential Pressure
Gas Disposal / Emissions
Low Energy Reservoirs / Difficult Fluids
www.nsri.co.uk
Brownfield Challenges of
Typical Tie-in
Other
■ Gas Train
Modifications
■ Export compressor
modifications
2-Phase HP
Separator
Chemical Laydown
Area
Subsea
Controls
HPU
www.nsri.co.uk
Umbilical
(DCS, F&G, ESD)
Chemical Injection
Package
Methanol Pump &
Storage Tank
SSIV
■ System upgrades
Production
Riser
Fluid Commingling
•
•
•
•
Fluid compatibility & ‘flow-ability’
Back-out or preferential production
Metering & allocation requirements
Existing architecture and infrastructure complexity
H
C
E
Gas Export
Oil Export
SSIV
Umbilical
Production
G
B
F
A
www.nsri.co.uk
Differential Pressure
•
•
•
•
HP/LP interfaces & complex OPPS; wells, subsea topsides
Bespoke Designs
Access to infrastructure / tie-in points
Production back-out & prioritisation
12km
Gas Export
SSIV
Umbilical
Oil Export
Field B
Manifold / OPPS
12km
PiP Production
Field A
Cooling Spool
Manifold / OPPS
www.nsri.co.uk
Gas Disposal
•
•
•
•
Gas Capacity constrains Oil Capacity
Remoteness from Gas Export network -> pipeline uneconomic
Flare emission restrictions, anti-MER
Complex upgrades: real estate; cost; safety -> uneconomic
FLARE
www.nsri.co.uk
Low Energy Reservoirs /
Difficult Fluids
Low pressure reservoir or long distance tie-back
• Needs energy, power or flow assurance problematic
Heavy & viscous fluids
• Energy, separation issues, significant water production
Very sour fluids & aggressive fluids
Sand Production and consequent erosion
Specification Issues – TAN, H2S, wax, de-values host crude
Locate facility at small pool
to minimise energy
requirement
Injector
Producer
www.nsri.co.uk
Producer
Hackathon Challenges: Can
Subsea Storage game-change
Fluid Co-mingling
Differential Pressure
Processed - Yes
Gas Disposal / Emissions
Un Processed - Maybe
Low Energy / Difficult Fluids
www.nsri.co.uk