North Sea field development study

Our client, a North Sea Operator, was evaluating the potential of one of its new fields. As part of this evaluation, our client needed to establish the anticipated flowline system configuration for tying the development back to an existing platform. This would allow the cost to be developed to an order of magnitude.

The benefit to the client was to provide the concept design of the tie back and to identify any potential problems and make recommendations accordingly.  This would allow the client to cost and determine the viability of the project.

Specific objectives were to:

• Develop a flowline system concept for the field development.
• Determine the flowline configurations, sizes, types, materials, insulation and burial requirements for the multiphase system.
• Determine the interface issues at the existing platform.
• Prepare a design report.

Pipesim was used to determine the diameter sizing of the pipe and sensitivity to surface roughness.  It was also used to determine possible susceptibility to slugging and insulation requirements needed to prevent wax and hydrate formation during flowing conditions.  A particular issue that was encountered was the drop in wellhead temperature over field life and resulting problems concerned with waxing and hydrate formation.

The results:

• Identified the operational issues including corrosion inhibitor requirement.
• Defined the pipeline parameters and route for both the infield flowlines and the export pipeline.
• Defined the base case of installation including laying, trenching and burial status.
• Identified the facilities required on the receiving platform.
• Provided recommendations on reservoir conditions, pipeline heating / insulation, slugging and trenching.