Simulating the Initial Startup of a Deepwater Field in the Gulf of Mexico

摘要

A subsea single line tie back in the deepwater of the Gulf of Mexico was recently started up. In order to validate the three-phase transient models used in the studies of the field operations, simulations of the activities actually performed in the initial startup were conducted. Comparisons between simulated and actual start-up operations also serve to improve multiphase flow modeling capabilities for future field design and operations. Formation drawdown, Production Index (PI), arrival pressure, and dead oil circulation rate were all constrained to track actual values during the initial startup. The impact of using different fluid properties was also investigated. In addition, dead oil circulation was simulated by several options to determine which method best matches the field data. The simulated values of liquid flow rates, pressures and temperatures were found to be in reasonable agreement with the data. The slugging event experienced by the field was also captured by the simulation. Comparisons between the simulations and field data served to identify both the strengths and weaknesses of the simulator applied to field operations.