Emerging technology assessment and qualification for subsea fields of the future

Abstract

Most of the easy subsea oil and gas reserves have been discovered and are being developed. Future subsea developments will therefore need emerging or new technologies for fields that are economically marginal, in deeper waters and with longer offsets. Even existing reserves could benefit from enhanced recovery techniques.

The introduction of new or emerging technologies needs careful evaluation and consideration as inherent risks need to be identified, quantified, and addressed. Typical technology interfaces needed to be considered are subsurface drilling and completions, subsea technology, topsides processes and facilities, and installation vessel capabilities. New and emerging technology maturity and gaps can be identified, quantified, and evaluated using recognised international standards such as ISO 20815, DnV RP A203, and API RP 17N.

New technologies and the novel combination of existing technologies could become economic enablers, particularly for marginal developments. These enablers need careful evaluation for risk and reward, recognising potential impacts to health, safety and the environment.

The following is a list of the typical subsea technologies that can be addressed:

1. Gas compression—a requirement for ultra-long subsea tie backs to shore from remote fields.

2. Water injection—boosts production and deals with waste water rather than treating and overboarding.

3. Boosting and pumping—possible economic enablers.

4. Separation—avoids costly retrieval of fluids and treatment at the surface. Fluids are often re-injected subsea.

5. Sequestration—can be a game changer for environmental reasons.

6. All electric systems.

7. Active heating techniques—such as open and closed direct electrical heating, trace heating, integrated production bundles.

8. Power distribution subsea is also a requirement for many new subsea technologies.

This extended abstract examines some of the technologies being developed for future subsea production, assesses their maturity and identifies the technology gaps, and commercialisation necessary to make them economically and technically viable for operators. This extended abstract also takes a glimpse at how the fields of the future may look.