EARLY PRODUCTION THROUGH USE OF SUBSEA TEMPLATE DRILLING AND PRODUCTION STRING TIE-BACK

Abstract

The development of offshore fields using subsea drilling templates and tie-back equipment has become an accepted means of achieving early production.

Using subsea templates for cluster drilling permits drilling development wells while platform and production facilities are being constructed. Therefore development drilling need not wait for platform installation. Accelerated development drilling means that production can begin very soon after the platform is installed over the subsea template wells.

Necessary equipment includes subsea templates, subsea drilling equipment, jacket guidance equipment, and tie-back adaptors to the subsea wellhead housings and casing hangers.

Three types of subsea templates used today are unitized, modular and spacer templates. Selection of the template is mainly dictated by water depth and number of wells.