The work presented in this paper shows how a single development evolved in a main Production Hub to unlock stranded resources, fast tracking subsequent marginal gas discoveries, by improving the flexibility of the subsea and treatment facilities. The approach was supported by a coherent activity about exploration program in the area, JV partnership and contracting strategy. During the Execution phase of a subsea development, a new discovery was made in deep water, 35 km from the Floating Production Unit (FPU). Following this discovery, given the potential for further developments in the area (stranded gas reservoirs and further new gas discoveries), the decision of considering the FPU as a future Production Hub has been taken and FPU has been converted accordingly. The inlet facilities have been designed to guarantee the possibility of receiving well fluids at different pressure levels (high pressure for the new developments and low pressure for productions in depletion) with high production flexibility. Several verifications have been performed to maximize the production flowrates at different pressure values, according to the envelope of data from exploration activities, via adequate arrangements for future expansion. These verifications considered the FPU as it is and with the implementation of minor and major modifications (including retrofitting offshore of new process modules). Design and timing of new equipment as minor/major brownfield modification have been set-up to cope with the modulate field profiles to keep FPU operating flowrate to its maximum value for longer time. In particular, the choice of new booster gas compressors has been planned, in order to select the best configuration for the most recent Hub development plan and to install them at the right time. Converting a barycentric infrastructure in a Hub ensures a significant reduction of CAPEX for future developments (limited to subsea tie-backs only), allowing to reconsider projects previously evaluated economically unsustainable. Moreover, the Hub shall guarantee a long-term gas production by continuous addition of new discoveries in the area, making it an essential facility for the energy future of the Country.
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