Marlim 3 Phase Subsea Separation System: Subsea Process Design and Technology Qualification Program

Abstract

This paper presents the selected concept, the main challenges of the adopted scenario and in consequence the requirements for a development of an extensive Technological Qualification Program performed on the components and on the whole sub-sea water separation and re-injection pilot system for Marlim field -known as SSAO Marlim Project. Due to being a pioneer project, even considering the previous Troll and Tordis sub-sea separation and re-injection systems, it was necessary to perform a very extensive and broad Technological Qualification Program (TQP). Two main characteristics of the SSAO project are responsible for the mentioned pioneer character of the project. Initially, in opposition to the mentioned existing systems, separated water has to be re-injected in the production reservoir formation, due to non available disposal reservoir in production field area. Thus, required water quality, relating to oil and sediment content after separation, was very strict in order to avoid loss of injectivity. Furthermore, due to the deep water depth of the installation site (870 m) and due to the fact that the SSAO is a pilot for future deep water installations, conventional gravity separators -as used in the mentioned projects -would not be feasible and new technologies, not yet used elsewhere, have to be adopted.