(154b) Design and Optimize Field Architecture for Deepwater Production Wells Based On Flow Assurance Criteria

As Oil Exploration and Production (E&P) companies are venturing further out into the sea and deeper to tap into pockets of oil and natural gas around the world, the Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) analysis of deepwater field development has become very critical due to the high risks in Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operating Expenditure (OPEX).  The field architecture for most deepwater developments has been dictated by flow assurance constraints and is a critical part in the design and operation of offshore oil and gas systems.

In this case study, a flow assurance analysis using PIPESIM was performed for a field development and is used to determine the ideal field architecture and reconcile the operational conditions against the field requirements. The field has five deepwater wells that are located at depth greater than 3000ft and the corresponding reservoirs were assumed to have same fluid composition. The flow assurance analysis was used to determine the field architecture including co-mingling of wells, flowline routes and FPSO location. The other parameters that were calculated are production tubing, flowline and riser line sizing along with topside arrival pressure and temperature values. Flowline and riser insulation requirements to maintain production temperature above wax appearance temperature and gas lift injection requirements to maintain topside arrival pressure were also determined. In addition, an erosion analysis was performed to verify the production fluid velocity does not exceed the erosion velocity limit per API 14E. The possible flow assurance issues that could arise from this design were deduced and necessary strategies to overcome were suggested.