Subsea Advantages and Challenges

Based ExxonMobil Subsea Developments

Subsea Advantages
• Produce from satellite wells.
• Decentralized resource will not support using surface platforms.
• Extend field life of older platforms.
• Faster development time
• Scaleable developments
• Economic viability
o Water depth
o Resource density
Subsea Challenges
Operability and Integrity
• Operability and integrity impact opex and downtime
• Flow assurance challenges
• Integrity of subsea and pipeline systems
• Subsea valve integrity
• Controls and distribution integrity
• Aging equipment

As seen above control systems accounted for the majority of subsea equipment
failures.
There are many reasons for failure. The list below is indicative rather than all encompassing:
Direct Failures: Corrosion, joint failure, splice failure, sensor failure, solenoid valve
failure, water creep, SEM failure (power supply, modem, solenoid driver,
microprocessor, etc), hydraulic coupling leak, hose failure, weld failure,
dynamic umbilical fatigue, electrical connection failure.
Indirect Failures: Dropped object, umbilical dragged by anchor chain or trawl board, wax or
hydrate blocking sensor port,
Subsea equipment reliability
Control systems: Reliability can be improved by proper burn-in of electronics, and testing,
such as shock and vibration. Minor details such as hydraulic coupling seal compatibility
should not be overlooked. Electronic components sourced by manufacturers can vary from
full 'military' specification, through ‘industrial’ high or low grade to 'commercial' (household
quality) with little visibility or control by the purchaser.
Electric and hydraulic connections: As electro-hydraulic control systems are widely used in
deepwater applications and require a high level of umbilical reliability and tube cleanliness,
the test requirements from the reception of core components in the manufacturing facility to
the umbilical installation in the field are presented in chapter 4.
Flow assurance: As discussed in chapter 3
QA/QC: During manufacture, components should be dimensionally controlled to verify
conformance with design drawings. Acceptable deviations will occur and should be recorded

Subsea Processing Technologies

Near-term technology applications
• Multi-phase or liquid boosting
• Gas-liquid or oil-water separation
Emerging Technologies
• Three-phase separation
• Compact separators and coalescers
• Gas dehydration and compression
• Water treating
• Higher power pumps and motors
• Longer-distance power transmission and distribution
• Instruments and control
Complexity is an under-appreciated challenge
• Reliability / operability / upset recovery
• Performance prediction and testing
• Solids management
• Instrumentation and controls