LOW COST FLOATING PRODUCTION FACILITY CONCEPTS FORTROPICAL WATERS

Abstract

A number of floating production facility concepts can be readily applied to the development of small and marginal oilfields in moderately deep tropical waters. These concepts can be used to extend the lives of existing mature fields. They can be deployed for a significant cost reduction compared with a conventional full field development provided that boundary limits for application of the concepts are not exceeded.

Simple, standardised, reliable and proven equipment should be utilised that may be deployed in innovative ways. Wherever possible, existing equipment should be used and rented where this is economical.

Marginal field projects should be managed and operated by small organisations competent in these activities to minimise overheads and maximise flexibility.

An inter-field transfer approach (Ocean Truck) offers many options for developing a number of such projects as part of an area development strategy.

Cooperation between operators, both as partners in a particular project and in different projects where the same facilities can be used sequentially or in parallel, can be an effective means to control costs and ensure that small oil accumulations are developed.