In an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a system for exploiting a hydrocarbon reserve, the system comprising a subsurface hydrocarbon reserve and a subsurface reservoir in fluid communication with the subsurface hydrocarbon reserve via one or more manufactured flowlines. The subsurface reservoir is below the subsurface hydrocarbon reserve, and the hydrocarbons are flowable, in use, from the subsurface hydrocarbon reserve to the lower subsurface reservoir, under the influence of gravity to gather and store hydrocarbons for production. An advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that only one hydrocarbon production facility, and thus only one primary point of hydrocarbon production, is required because the need for a large surface infrastructure may be minimised or eliminated, thus helping to minimise the environmental impact of the operation. Moreover,capital investment, for example, in terms of drilling and excavation of the subsurface gathering cavern(s) and/or subsurface storage chamber, may be significantly offset by the elimination of multiple hydrocarbon production facilities at the surface.
展开▼
