Facilities 1

Facilities and systems.
The important subsurface systems are –
1. Subsea Christmas tree
2. Flexible flow line jumper
3. Manifold
4. Subsea booster pump
5. Electro hydraulic umbilical lines
6. Multiphase flow meter
7. Risers
1. Subsea Christmas tree
It is a series of valves, spool and fittings which acts as a link between the
completion and subsea facility. Flow of fluids into and out of the well is controlled
by Christmas tree. Other important function is controlling the water or gas
injection application. It also possesses facilities to enable safe access for well
intervention operations such as coiled tubing or electric wire line.
2. Flexible flow line jumper
Connections between the manifolds and the wellheads are made via flexible flow
line jumpers.
3. Manifold
The reservoir fluids from different well heads are collected by the manifold. Then
it is redirected through the flow lines to the main separator during the normal
production or to a single test separator in order to test the flow characteristics of
each well. Depending on reservoir conditions each wellhead will deliver fluid at a
different pressure. These differences in pressure have to be equalised before
further transport. Choke valves are installed for achieving this purpose.
4. Subsea booster pump
This is located at the downstream of the manifold. It pumps the reservoir fluids
along the length of the flow line and up the riser to the production facility. If the
wells are at high pressure, booster pumps are used to extend the production by
reducing the well head pressure. Since the flow is pressurised, continuous flow is
assured by these devices.
5. Electro hydraulic umbilical lines
These lines run from the production facility to each manifold and well head. They
provide electrical supply and control fluids for the various control valves and
instruments. Scale and hydrate formation in the produced stream can be
controlled by this facility.
6. Multiphase flow meter
Its function is to measure production from different wells. Before reaching the
manifold, flow from each well is metered using this flow meter. Accurate water
cut and hydrocarbon measurements aid in enhanced oil recovery. Oil, gas and
water phases of the reservoir fluid mix as they pass through the venturi of the
meter.
7. Risers
It connects the flow line from the manifold to the production facility. Flexible and
rigid type risers are commonly used. Flexible risers are used preferably because
of its advantages over the rigid one.
i. Low capital and maintenance cost
ii. Easy installation possible
iii. Less affected in severe weather condition.
iv. Flexible riser is the key option in the case of floating production facility as
they can support them without undergoing excessive stress.
Hence flexible risers are selected
Flexible risers to the production facility of FPSO

Separation system
It is the most important processing facility. Reservoir fluid consists of oil, gas,
water, sand and other contaminants in different proportion. The important
objectives of the separators used in this production facility are-
i. Separate hydrocarbons from the contaminants.
ii. Prepare hydrocarbons for transport to the tanker.
iii. Meet the specifications of transport and other downstream facilities.
iv. Accurate metering of hydrocarbons and produced water.
v. Maximise oil production in the expense of produced gas.
Transportation through shuttle tankers requires special attention as maximum

allowable value of Reid vapour Pressure is about 10psia to avoid flammability
hazards.
There are different types of separators. Gravity separators are commonly used.
It is of two types – Horizontal and Vertical separators.
Since the amount of oil produced is more and Gas Oil Ratio is low, horizontal
separator is better. Also it is more suitable in three phase separation. Horizontal
separators can be easily fabricated. So for effectively separating oil, gas and
water, a single stage three phase horizontal separator is selected.
Schematic of three phase horizontal separator
Oil treatment
There are certain specifications for the produced oil to be sold at market. Basic
Sediments and Water content should be less than 0.1 % for the light crude oil of
the Tantalum. Emulsion formation can be limited and destabilised by the usage
of chemicals and heat. Electricity is used to increase the rate of coalescence and
flocculation. A Settling Tank with sufficient cross sectional area and retention
time is utilised to meet final sales specifications of oil.
Gas sweetening
Generally processing operations are carried out to ensure the quality of gas and
requirements set by the purchaser. It includes gas conditioning and removal of
acid gases termed as sweetening. Filters are installed to reduce the amount of
mercury to less than 1 ppb. Since the crude from Tantalum field is sweet,
sweetening facility is not required for it.
Gas dehydration system
To avoid pipeline corrosion and hydrate formation, gas dehydration system is

employed. There are various ways of dehydration process such as glycol
dehydration, gas stream refrigeration and adsorption. Glycol dehydration is
utilised because it needs only lower foot print and it is economical.
Schematic of Glycol dehydration system
Gas compression system
Gas lift can be utilised in the Tantalum in the future. In order to use the
produced gas for lift, it has to be compressed. A centrifugal gas compressor is
selected for this purpose due to its low cost for the compression process.
Water treatment
This is of two types- Produced water and injection treatments. Since there is a
strong aquifer support and no provision for water injection for Tantalum, only
produced water treatment is done. Three levels of treatment are done before
disposing the produced water finally to the sea. The first phase takes in the
separator itself. Secondly, hydrocyclones are used which does not have any
moving part. So less maintenance is required. The third treatment takes place in
the degasser. 40 ppm is the upper limit of oil content in water for safe disposal
into sea.
Produced water treatment
Power generation
Power requirements for the pumps, compressors, lighting and maintenance can
be met by utilising the produced gas from the reservoir. Gas turbines are used
offshore to supply power to the equipment by burning the produced gas. The
sweet gas has an advantage that it will not harm the turbine.
Oil metering
Volume and density of the oil is metered for making various estimations. Oil
quantity and flow rates can be properly assessed at offloading points by
metering. Due to good accuracy and the requirement of low maintenance, Ultra
sonic flow meter is used for metering.
Mooring
The External Turret Mooring is used because the buoy can be avoided in this
case. The turntable and swivels attached directly to the tanker bow or stern. This
reduces the number of swivels and articulated structural joints in the system.
External Turret Mooring

Process flow diagram

Facilities 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Facilities 1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Facilities 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Facilities and systems.

The important subsurface systems are –

1. Subsea Christmas tree

2. Flexible flow line jumper

4. Subsea booster pump

5. Electro hydraulic umbilical lines

6. Multiphase flow meter

1. Subsea Christmas tree

2. Flexible flow line jumper

4. Subsea booster pump

5. Electro hydraulic umbilical lines

6. Multiphase flow meter

i. Low capital and maintenance cost

ii. Easy installation possible

iii. Less affected in severe weather condition.

Hence flexible risers are selected

Flexible risers to the production facility of FPSO

i. Separate hydrocarbons from the contaminants.

ii. Prepare hydrocarbons for transport to the tanker.

iii. Meet the specifications of transport and other downstream facilities.

iv. Accurate metering of hydrocarbons and produced water.

v. Maximise oil production in the expense of produced gas.

Transportation through shuttle tankers requires special attention as maximum

To avoid pipeline corrosion and hydrate formation, gas dehydration system is

Schematic of Glycol dehydration system

Gas compression system

Produced water treatment

External Turret Mooring

You might also like