The offshore pilot test of a submerged production system (SPS) encompassedthe entire spectreum of SPS equipment, which was designed for use in waterdepths to 2,000 ft. Results show that deepwater installation techniques arepracticable, deepwater maintenance machinery is competent to repair anoperating system, with some modifications, the SPS is suitable for commercialapplication. Introduction The purpose of the submerged production system (SPS) is to provide a meansof producing offshore fields in water depths beyond the practical capability ofbottom-founded, surface-penetrating structures. The SPS is an integrated suiteof equipment designed to satisfy the life-cycle requirements for producing asubsea field from developmental drilling through field abandonment. Thisintegrated suite of equipment spans from the completion interval of the wellsto the transfer of produced fluid into a common-carrier pipeline or shuttletanker. The prototype version of the SPS used for the pilot test included atleast one representative piece of every type of oceanfloor equipment requiredfor a commercial application. The subject of this paper is a discussion of SPScapabilities from both functional and maintenance viewpoints followed by adescription of the offshore pilot test performed to validate the SPS concept.The pilot test description covers the prototype SPS equipment, test objectives, conduct of prototype SPS equipment, test objectives, conduct of the test, and, finally, conclusions that were made following an evaluation of testresults. SPS Functional Capabilities The SPS is a full-capability production system. Fig. 1 depicts the system'smost general equipment configuration. The template unit shown on the seaflooris the major component of the system. The fluids produced by the wells andgathered by the template produced by the wells and gathered by the templateunit are routed via pipelines and an articulated production riser to a surfaceprocessing facility for production riser to a surface processing facility forstorage and disposal. The drillship shown in Fig. 1 is used both for installingthe template and for drilling the development wells. Among the designrequirements that apply to all SPS equipment are that they be simply, highlyreliable, and have a long life expectancy. One of the most salientcharacteristics of the SPS is that it eliminates the need to expose personnelto the ocean-floor environment during personnel to the ocean-floor environmentduring installation, operation, maintenance, and (at field abandonment)recovery of the subsea equipment. Surface-controlled, electrohydraulic, supervisory control equipment is used to control and monitor the ocean-floorequipment remotely. On command from the surface, hydraulic power is switched tooperate valve actuators and diverter actuators in the manifold. Allflow-control valves - such as downhole safety valves, master valves, wingvalves, and pipeline block valves - are fail-safe closed and pipeline blockvalves - are fail-safe closed and require the presence of hydraulic pressure toremain open. The monitoring capability provides sufficient information to (1)determine the performance of a well, (2) generate appropriate workoverprograms, and (3) troubleshoot an equipment malfunction in preparation formaintenance. An automatic, fail-safe preparation for maintenance. An automatic, fail-safe safety system monitors the manifold and the control equipment. If anoperating parameter exceeds its preset limit, a preplanned course of action ispreset limit, a preplanned course of action is initiated automatically toreturn the equipment to a safe operating condition, usually to shut in all orpart of the wells. JPT P. 899
The offshore pilot test of Exxon’s Submerged Production System (SPS) has reached a successful conclusion. This pilot test encompassed the entire spectrum of SPS equipment, spanning from the well completion intervals to, but not including, common surface processing and storage facilities. Since the SPS is designed to meet all the life cycle needs of a subsea field, one of the objectives of the pilot test was to evaluate both the techniques and the equipment used to install, operate, and maintain a prototype version of the SPS. The equipment under test was designed for use in water depths up to 2000 ft, but with minor modifications it is capable of operating in significantly greater depths. Evaluation of pilot test results has shown that the deep water installation techniques are practicable and that the deep water maintenance machinery is competent to repair any failures likely to occur in an operating system. One of the most significant problems in conducting the pilot test was achieving adequate quality control during equipment manufacture. The test results have demonstrated that, with relatively minor modifications, the SPS is suitable for commercial application.
As tile search jor oil and gas reserves is extended to deeper water, conventional offshore exploitation methods becotne less attractive due to the high cost for fixed plalforms. This has prompted consideration of subsea completion methods as an alternative development technique. Hatnble Oil &Rejining Co, hasconducted tests todeve!op technology and equipment needed for completion and prodttction maintenance of satellite underwater wells in deep water. Results of this cieveloptnent program are presented.
American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. This paper was prepared for the 43rd Annual Fall Meeting of the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME, to be held in Houston, Tex., Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 1968. Permission to copy is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words. Illustrations may not be copied. The abstract should contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper is presented. Publication elsewhere after publication in the JOURNAL paper is presented. Publication elsewhere after publication in the JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY or the SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS JOURNAL is usually granted upon request to the Editor of the appropriate journal provided agreement to give proper credit is made. provided agreement to give proper credit is made. Discussion of this paper is invited. Three copies of any discussion should be sent to the Society of Petroleum Engineers office. Such discussion may be presented at the above meeting and, with the paper, may be considered for publication in one of the two SPE magazines. Abstract Humble recently demonstrated an important advancement in subsea completion technology by remotely completing a satellite underwater well with pump-down tools. This was Industry's first known attempt to perform completion operations with the rig off location. Pump-down tools and techniques were used Pump-down tools and techniques were used to perforate and consolidate the producing sand at 10, 100 feet TVD. This pump-down completion along with onshore tests simulating other pump-down completion-workover operations demonstrates the capability to remotely perform virtually all through-tubing type well servicing operations necessary to complete and maintain satellite subsea wells. This technology, in addition to significantly lowering completion costs of subsea wells, will substantially reduce maintenance costs by eliminating the need for many vertical re-entry workovers. The subsea wellhead, tree and control system used for completion of this well and Humble's experience in operating underwater completions in the Gulf of Mexico are reviewed in this paper. Introduction Several significant advancements have recently been made in underwater completion technology. These advancements include both new and improved pump-down tools and well completion systems, as well as continued successful operating experience with underwater completions. They combine to greatly enhance the capabilities, economics, and application of the underwater completions, as well as overall confidence in the system. Specific advancements that have been made Humble are:The development of a complete suite of pump-down production maintenance an workover tools. The development of these tools has eliminated the need for expensive mobile rigs to perform most completion well servicing, and routine workover operations.The development of an unassisted diver connection system for tubing extensions.
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