Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Due Date
13TH APRIL 2014
MATRIC No.:
Date Submitted
13th APRIL 2014
1312484
ASSIGNMENT TITLE
MR MIKE ROBINSON
I confirm: (a) That the work undertaken for this assignment is entirely my own and that I have
not made use of any unauthorised assistance.
(b) That the sources of all reference material have been properly acknowledged.
[NB: For information on Academic Misconduct, refer to
http://www.rgu.ac.uk/academicaffairs/assessment/page.cfm?pge=7088]
Signed
ABBEY-HART
10TH APRIL 2014
..................................... Date ......................................................
Markers Comments
Marker
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Grade
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PREPARED BY
NAME.
ABBEY-HART
TUMINI
REVIEWED BY
(1312484)
MR MIKE
ROBINSON
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
SIGNATURE
ABBEY-HART
DATE
13 APRIL 2014
th
(Oil,
Gas,
Water)
to
prevent
future
problems
with
the
government.
Also occurring flow assurance issues like Asphaltene Precipitation,
Wax formation etc. are expected during development so prevention
methods would be placed to prevent this from occurring and causing
obstruction of fluids flow from well heads to their final point of export or
sales point.
Lastly, a preferred option is recommended for the progress of this project
and all of this would be discussed as development planning is carried out.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY......................................................................3
INTRODUCTION..............................................................................5
1.1 Aims of this report..................................................................5
1.2 Objectives of this report...........................................................6
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INTRODUCTION
As a field consultant, I am commencing the development of a new oil
field that I have been assigned to, create a flow diagram for superiors to
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SECTION A:
2.0 Analysis for Field Development
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2.1 Well Head: During production, fluids from reservoir flow to the top
of the earth surface, and are being produced at the wellhead. The
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forces cause the heavier liquid droplets to fall out of the gas stream to
the bottom where the liquid is collected. The liquid phase holds the liquid
until an appropriate residence time required to allow the entrained gas
break out of the oil and rise to the gas phase, and they do so under
buoyancy forces. In addition, how easy the gases breaks out of the liquid
is determined by the viscosity of the liquid present, as liquid with high
viscosities imply longer residence times.
2.4 Gas Scrubber: As the gas, flows out of the separator it passes a
mist extractor, which acts as a barrier and causes small drops of liquid
that were difficult to be separated by gravity to fall back into the liquid
phase. The gas then flows into a gas scrubber, whose function is to
restrict and trap condensed liquids (i.e. water and hydrocarbons) from
the gases as it leaves the separators. This function of the gas scrubber
helps prevent liquids from getting into the suction of the compressor
thereby disrupting functionality and causing erode on compressor
rotating blades.
2.5 Compressor: As gas moves through the processing stages, a drop in
pressure accompanies it and energy would need to be imparted into it to
cause an increase in pressure, before it can be transported to the next
processing stage. In this scenario, three separators are used in stepping
down the pressure, so the gas pressure escaping the first separator is not
same with the gas pressure escaping the second and the third separator,
so in such a compressor is used to increase the gas pressure of the
second and third separator to be in range with the first separator.
2.6 Gas Conditioning Unit: Before the gas is made use of as fuel or
flared, it goes through the condition unit, which ensures water vapour is
absent in gases, as this can lead to hydrate formation and cause
corrosion in the presence of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. It
also ensures that contaminants like carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide
are removed, as hydrogen sulphide is toxic.
To prevent such hindrances, two processes are undertaken which are:
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i.
ii.
contact
tower
or
absorber.
Chemical
solvents
such
as
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corrugated
interceptor,
gas
floatation
unit
etc...
But
The way the de-gassing drum works is, as water enters the de-gassing
drum dispersed gases slowly rise out of it and by floatation, the gases
pull along with it remaining droplets of oil to the surface that were not
separated by the hydrocyclones. The surface oil film is drained out and
channelled back to the heater treater for dehydration, and produced now
treated water is now discharged to sea through a skim pipe. Hydrogen
sulphide and Carbon dioxide are also treated here as explained earlier by
making use of the Monoethanolamine solvent to remove its presence.
In Figure 1.0, you would have a view of the process through which the oil
flows in the separator. The oil seats in the middle between the gas phase
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and water phase then it leaves the separator through oil dump valves
installed below, which are controlled accordingly by the oil level controller
at the side of the separator as oil changes are sensed from the weir
located in the separator. The oil then flows out into a heater treater.
2.11 Heater Treater: With the assumption of high viscosity crudes,
heater treater is installed in order to promote separation and fast break
out of the gas from the liquid phase. As high viscosity, fluids have
tendencies of taking longer retention time to break out the liquid phase.
This gives stabilization and dehydration of the oil before it goes to the
storage tank and then later transport. As it is necessary for fluids to be
stabilized during transport, and gas to be dehydrated to its dew point to
prevent liquid drop out during transportation.
2.12 Storage Tank: When the oil comes into the storage tank, it does
so with the support of a pump to impart pressure into the liquid to
prevent occurrence of slippage due to the pressure dropped already
occurred in process. This device simply stores oil produced from the fluid
after it has gone through all processing stages available and is now
awaiting exportation. RVP is carried out on the oil using Reid bomb
apparatus before transportation to ensure true vapour pressure is within
range of 10-12 psia required for transport by shuttle tankers. This
process ensures vapour is not too high, as it is flammable and gives rise
to explosion hazards if escaped to atmosphere.
2.13 SBM: When the oil stored in the storage is now ready to be
transported, this provides the tankers with support during extraction as
the tanker is tied up to the SBM and through it, the tankers have the
ability to rotate around and accommodate the weather conditions present
at time of export.
2.14 Shuttle Tankers: They simply are the boats, which come and take
the oil away to the storage facility when it is ready for export.
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SECTION A Part 2:
3.0 Tie Back Development
For tieback in this development, it can be performed by either introducing
a new jacket, and making use of a linking bridge to link both facilities, Or
by making use of subsea equipments for the development of the tie back.
This I believe to be a better option as the distance of 10km between both
facilities is quite much for use of a linking bridge though it cost less, the
risk involved if problems were to occur are very high. Subsea tiebacks
equipments utilised are:
3.1 Subsea Production Template: This support production activities to
be carried out, acting as the base foundation for other subsea structures
to be installed upon. Construction is carried out nearby, and taken to
seabed location when constructed, in which it is gently lowered unto the
seabed using a crane barge, and pile drivers installed on it are loosened,
and piled into the bottom of the seabed to hold template in place and
promote stability of the equipment.
3.2 Subsea Tree: This equipment is placed at the bottom of the sea to
seat on the template that seats on the seabed. It is required as the final
step taken for completion of a well to make it viable for production startup. It helps control and support the fluid flow from the Casablanca field
providing safe conduit through it and the flow lines into the manifold.
3.3 Underwater Manifold: As described earlier this has the same
function, acts as a gathering centre and focal point for production of
fluids. It connects all series of wells together through flow lines, while
also seating on the subsea template.
3.4 Multi-Phase Meters: Also described earlier, as meters are used for
many reasons e.g. government, personal files, court cases etc. it is used
to know the quantity and volume of produce been sent out from one
party to another party.
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3.5 Risers: This is a large steel pipe diameters installed, and the
function it plays is, it serves as a drill string conduit raising and collecting
fluids gathered at the seabed manifold installed below and then sends it
upwards for processing through the subsea flow lines installed.
3.6 Flow Lines: This plays the part of conveying and transportation of
oil, gas, and all other constituents around installations, and also from the
Casablanca facility to the pre-existing Morella facility.
3.7 Umbilical Cables: These are offshore underwater cables installed
and deployed into the seabed to ensure safe transfer of electrical or
hydraulic energy to equipments used subsea.
SECTION B
4.0 Flow assurance issues faced by Casablanca and Morella
facility.
Both platforms face few common flow assurance issues likely to occur,
though they may occur at different areas, they do still occur. Moreover,
some have low tendencies of occurring due to presence of Mediterranean
climate. Foreseen issues on both platforms are:
4.1 Hydrates Formation: Occurs due to physical bonding of lighter
constituents and water present in gases, and is visible to human eyes in
the form of iceberg structures. They are formed in conditions of high
pressure and low temperature, and the risk of it occurring here are low
due to Mediterranean climate but they can still occur. If it were to occur,
on the Casablanca field it would occur on wellheads and flow lines. Then
on Morella, it would also occur on flow lines and available equipments.
These plug equipments and pipelines there by obstructing flow and
causing blockage to flow of fluids.
Control Measures: If it occurred, its controlled with use of Tri-Ethylene
glycol solvent in which performs water dehydration present in gases.
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4.2 Corrosion: Occurs from the hydrates formed, but in the presence of
acid gases (Hydrogen sulphide and Carbon dioxide). Corrosion leads to
many problems such as contamination of fluids, structural failure, rusting,
and operation shutdown. On both fields they can occur on flow lines and
equipments used in the presence of hydrates.
Control Measures: Can be controlled by making use of corrosion
resistant pipes, and through chemicals solvents such as corrosion
inhibitors like Monoethanolamine and Imodazolines
4.3 Paraffin Waxes: These are crystalline in nature, and are formed at
temperatures below cloud point. Also it has low tendency of occurring
due to Mediterranean climate. If waxes were to occur, they would cause
production choking. On both platforms, if it occurred it would occur in
flow lines.
Control Measures: If it occurred, its controlled by injection of paraffin
inhibitors such as, Ethylene vinyl acetate or Alkyl phenols or Vinyl
Polymers or through insulation of flow lines.
4.4 Asphaltene Precipitation: Formed through oxidation, in the
presence of impurities along with resins and aromatics in the crude oil,
giving rise to metallic looking molecular substances (Asphaltene). In both
platforms they can occur in flow lines, and cause the flow lines to have
depositional tendencies. Also causes reduction in diffusion rate.
Control
Measures:
Can
also
be
controlled
through
injection
of
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Casablanca
structures
in
that
can
be
easily
would
coming
stop
years
Morella
and
give
new location.
They have capacities to handle
During
exportation
of
produced
would
at time of export.
During offloading of produce, there
it
disadvantage,
are
likely
to
occur
Asphaltene Precipitation
such
is
produce
at
above
major
as
75,000
financial
equipments
or
equipment
Page 16
processing
requirements
processing,
as
needed
all
storage
and
vessels.
It
can
be
recycled
thereby
Compared
to
a
the
lower
FPSO
requires
investment
to
initial
be
this
capital
used
in
Commercial
Disadvantages
of
Casablanca
and
Morella
Platform.
Since
trained
facility.
subsea
to
equipments
achieve
are
required
contaminate
crude.
Section C:
5.1 Recommendation of Preferred option
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the
sweet
After
careful
assessment
of
all
field
development
options,
do
recommend the use of option 1 that is the wellhead jacket and FPSO
structure over option 2 for four main reasons, which are:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
References
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Bibliography
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