AO-03: THE ELGIN/FRANKLIN NORTH SEA GAS DEVELOPMENT GRASPS HP/HT CHALLENGES

摘要

The Elgin and Franklin fields, located in the Central Graben area of the North Sea, contain importantrnquantities of rich natural gas condensates. The reservoirs are deep and sour, with abnormal high pressures,rnextreme temperatures (HP/HT) and significant levels of both CO2 and H2S. This paper describes some ofrnthe challenges, particularly the HP/HT conditions, the means to overcome them and the currentrndevelopment plans. Analytical equipment and methods to provide an acceptably reliable basis forrnunderstanding and predicting future production performance in the absence of applicable analogousrnexperience are identified. Improved drilling methods have been applied during the Elgin appraisal drillingrnprogramme to achieve progressively longer wells with greater offsets. The field architecture for anrnintegrated development based on offshore processing to a gas specification has been defined and FEEDrnstudies have been completed. The current process evolution is described taking account of the conflictingrndemands of gas marketing conditions and the heavy investments for wells and large processing demands tornmaximise economic recovery of the hydrocarbons. The development plan is discussed.