Platform-Free Fields for Stranded Gas Development: Science or Fiction?

摘要

The requirement for larger and complex production platforms for the development of deepwater gas fields worldwide makes he exploitation of these resources unfeasible. Aiming at reducing the size of these facilities and, consequently, the field evelopment costs, the industry has been conducting, for everal years, initiatives in sub-sea processing. This paper proposes a drastic paradigm shift to meet the requirements of stranded gas: the substitution of surface hydrocarbons processing located in production platforms by down-hole and sub-sea facilities. The vision of Platform Free Fields (PF~2) challenges R&D groups to provide real step changes for the feasibility of the gas business. A systematic pathway towards PF~2 is analyzed considering economical drivers, an extensive review of the state-of-the-art technology, challenges associated to well architecture and construction, design of down-hole and sub-sea production processes and flow assurance implications. An analysis of the existing R&D and eff orts associated with the exploitation of offshore deepwater gas fields is presented. Based on such analysis and the major challenges involved in the PF~2 concept, the paper discusses the viability of such vision and proposes an approach for it. The value creation for each stepwise development is commented along with the modularity and reliability of the concept. The PF~2 constitutes a vision to be shared by all parties involved in the development of stranded gas fields. The vision will guide and encourage industry collaboration towards the goal of making possible the exploitation of such stranded resources far more effectively and likely to succeed than if driven by isolated efforts. Finally, the paper presents a technical and critical review of tendencies and highlights the most important issues to be addressed for a paradigm change: pushing limits and pulling innovation based on people’s experience and knowledge.