Direct Hydraulic Control Systems as a Key Enabler for Developing Shallow Water Marginal Fields

Abstract

In the current situation of the industry, high numbers of prospects are being considered as not economical to develop due to various factors including low reserves, high complexity and stranded locations with no suitable host facility to tie-in to nearby. This paper will discuss how the utilization of direct-hydraulic subsea control technology, when coupled with shallow water tree technology, can be deployed to enable technically and commercially viable solutions for marginal shallow water fields. Under these circumstances, direct hydraulic technology has a number of advantages over traditional EH-MUX control systems, such that direct hydraulics can enable the development of fields which would otherwise be uneconomical. These advantages include – By using Direct Hydraulic technology, the project was able to achieve a commercially attractive and technically fit-for-purpose design, leading to successful project sanction (the first such project in Malaysian waters), and opening the door for similar future developments to follow. This paper will present information and methods that will be of benefit to other Operators in the subsea industry who are seeking to unlock reserves that are currently in marginal fields and would be uneconomical to develop using other methods. The benefits that can be gained are both in terms of proof of concept using off-the-shelf designs, and opening up otherwise uneconomical fields for development. In this particular case, the project opens up a further 6 new fields which were previously considered uneconomic to develop.