Deepwater field developments in West Africa have been producing for more than a decade and are now facing the effects of increases in produced water rate coupled with decreases in the crude production rate. The hullage of the floating facility producing such mature fields is a parameter followed by the Operator along field life and managed when possible by the development of remote reservoirs. Such development is often performed by extending the subsea network through the connection of additional wells, the extension of the existing flowline, the laying of new production lines and risers or by installing subsea boosting stations. The development of new reservoirs may also require topsides modification. The congestion of existing topsides and subsea architecture often presents issues for the designer seeking to arrive at a design that provides sufficient operability. This paper will present the context of deepwater brown field development when limited / no riser slots is available on the floating facilities and will review the different options available to the designer.
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