Innovative Field Development Scheme Based on Saipem's ETH PiP and Relevant Subsea Power Feeding System

Abstract

The overall complexity of future subsea transportation systems is expected to increase due to new challenges posed by the novel field development schemes mainly dictated by the combination of tie-back distance and water depth with the target to make the field exploitation profitable, safe and reliable in the current Oil & Gas price scenario. It is becoming more frequent to face field development projects with long step-out distances associated with considerable water depth and/or low wellhead product temperature. During normal or transient conditions, these factors lead to flow assurance issues that can be avoided by deploying new cost effective technologies such as insulated and heated pipeline systems combined with subsea processing elements like Subsea Boosting. A dedicated team has performed different studies and internal development activities on this subject based on expected needs of Operators considering their real future subsea fields under investigation. New development schemes and operating philosophies have been identified together with the relevant technologies that, in some cases are under development, jointly with major suppliers. The most efficient production schemes have been selected and the conceptual design of its relevant technological building blocks has been performed. These building blocks have been further investigated in terms of market ownership & readiness with technology suppliers and O&G operators. The main enabling technologies involved for the oil fields are Subsea Active Heating/Insulation such as proprietary Electrically Trace-Heated Pipe In Pipe (ETH PIP), Subsea Boosting, Subsea Power Distribution and the All Electric Control System. ETH PiP, combined with Subsea Power Distribution (Subsea Switchgear, Subsea Transformers, Subsea VSD, etc.) and the All Electric Control System, can significantly support overall investment cost reduction and facilitate the tie-back development to an existing facility by ensuring the flexibility of operations and suitability with a wide range of project design basis. This paper outlines the selected development schemes for the long tieback oil fields and describes the main technological building blocks. It also outlines the actions initiated to provide a global solution for these types of fields and mainly to industrialize the second generation of the ETH PIP solution for longer tie-backs. It discusses the main components of the ETH PIP solution and the relevant Subsea Power Feeding System that provide and distribute power also to the other subsea utilities like boosting pumps and All Electric Control.