Introduction to Subsea

Society for Underwater Technology

Subsea Awareness Course
Perth, Australia.

Presented by: Peter Brownlie, INTECSEA

 Agenda

 Why Subsea?

 Components of Subsea Systems

 Development of a Subsea System

 Subsea Development Phases

 Subsea System Building Blocks

 The Subsea System

Pipeline to shore Riser Platform / Production Platform / FPSO / Pipeline Subsea to Shore

Dual 16 inch Export Pipeline

Infield Pipeline + Rigid Jumpers and PLETs > 5 km

Rigid Jumper Spools < 50 m

6-slot Manifold

Dual Infield
Pipeline
PLETs

6-slot manifold

Flexible Flowline 500m to 5 km

Wellhead and Horizontal Xmas Tree

7 inch Tubing Completion
Not to Scale
 Why Subsea?

Economics

 Production may not justify the CAPEX for a

platform

 Field reservoir areas may not be reached by

deviated drilling from surface wells

 The water depth may be too great to use a surface

well platform

 Early Production: fast-track development is

required
 Why Subsea?

Advantages
 Eliminate CAPEX of platform
 Cost burden transferred from CAPEX to OPEX
 Construction cycle is conducive to fast-track projects
 Suitable to phased projects – future expansion
 No visual impact
 Under ice in Arctic conditions

Disadvantages
 Complex hardware
 Inaccessible for maintenance and repair
 Intervention is expensive and complex
 Components of Subsea Systems

 Wellheads and Xmas Trees

 Templates and Manifolds

 Pigging and Well Testing

 Flowlines and Risers

 Vessels, Risers and Moorings

 Tie-In and Connection Systems

 Subsea Control Systems and Umbilical

 Typical Equipment Layout

SCARAB/SAFFRON DEVELOPMENT
GENERAL ARRANGEMENT

4” MEG PIPELINE
AND PLET H-UTA
SDA E-UTA

(2) MANIFOLD WITH 10”

JUMPERS TO 10” PLET

INFIELD
UMBILICAL DUAL 20”/24”/36”
EXPORT PIPELINES
UTA WITH FLYING PLETS AND PLEM
LEADS
10” FLOWLINES

HORIZONTAL 10” JUMPER

10” PLET
TREE

1155-01.ppt
 Wellhead and Xmas Tree

XMAS TREE

WELLHEAD ASSEMBLY

.
 Wellhead

 Access point to the Well

 Foundation and connection
point for Xmas Tree or
B.O.P.
 Usually supports the
subsurface equipment -
production tubing /
completion
 Designed to take riser
bending loads during drilling
and workover operations and
pressure and temperature
loads Cameron Wellhead
System
 Xmas Tree

 Assembly of valves mounted on

Wellhead
 Control of flow to / from well during
normal production
 Provides safe access to well during
well interventions (“workovers”)
 Features
 Dual barrier philosophy
 Annulus monitoring / pressure relief
 Gas lift
 Chemical injection
 Mounting location for other equipment
 Xmas Trees

Horizontal Tree Vertical Tree

 Tree Installation Equipment

Horizontal Tree
The completion programme often
involves flowing the well via the landing
string.
In deepwater, the string must incorporate
a primary well control barrier and an
emergency disconnect function.
 BOP Stack
 Subsea Test Tree
 Emergency Disconnect Package
 Templates and Manifolds

.
MANIFOLD
 Templates and Manifolds

 Collection of valves and piping

 Collects flow from multiple wells into a
single transportation system
 Provides an economic alternative to
individual flowlines
 Distribution point for chemicals, gas for
gas lift etc. to Xmas Trees
 Allows for isolation of one Xmas Tree
from others
 Allow pigging of flowline
 Designed to take expansion loads etc.
from flowlines
 Provides protection from impacts (eg.
dropped objects), snags (eg. fishing)
Pigging Arrangements
Pigging Arrangements
Well Testing Arrangements
Well Testing Arrangements
Well Testing Arrangements
 Flowlines and Risers

RISERS

. INFIELD FLOWLINE
INFIELD FLOWLINE

. .

. FLEXIBLE FLOWLINE
 Flowlines and Risers

 Flowlines  Risers
 Rigid or flexible (also bundles, etc.)  Driven by water depth and
 Transport of product, injection gas, and type of facilities
injection chemicals  Flexible flowlines or steel
 Selection driven by product service catenary risers
(temperature / composition), water depth,
economics, installation vessels, insulation
requirements, etc.
Vessels, Risers and Moorings
Vessels, Risers and Moorings
Tie-in and Connection Systems
 Tie-In and Connection Systems

 Subsea Connections
 Diver / Diverless
 Types of Subsea
Connectors
 Flange
 Collet
 Mandrel
 Clamp
 Alignment and Connection
Methods
 Horizontal stab type
connectors
 Vertical stab type connectors
 Vertical stab and hinge over
type connectors
 Control Systems

 Purpose of control and monitoring

 Valves and chokes
 Hydraulic power
 Remote measuring (flow)
 Signal transmission (pressure / temperature /
erosion)
 Types of control systems
 Umbilicals

 Umbilical configurations
 Lines to transport hydraulic fluid
and injection chemicals
 Electrical power and signal cores
 Steel versus thermoplastic lines
 Terminations and connectors
 Manufacturing methods
 Installation
 Installation Tooling

 Workover Control System

 Workover Riser / EDP / LRP / Landing String
 Tubing Hanger Tooling
 Wellhead Tooling
 ROV Tooling Package
 Onshore / Offshore Test Equipment
 Lifting Equipment
 Developing Subsea Technology

 Subsea Multiphase Pumping

 Subsea Compression Subsea
 Subsea Separation Processing
 Electrically Heated Flowlines
 Subsea Power Transmission Shell Draugen Subsea
Multiphase Booster Pump
 Downhole Separation (Framo)

 All-Electric Subsea Tree

 Control Buoys
 Subsea Power Generation
 Intelligent Completions

PazFlor, Gas/Water Separator Potential Ormen Lange Single Subsea Compression Train
(FMCTI) (Aker Solutions)
 Developing Subsea Technology

Tordis, Oil/Water/Sand Separator PazFlor, Gas/Water Separator

(FMCTI) (FMCTI)
 Subsea Development Phases

 System Design
 Concept, Front End Engineering (FEED), Detail
 Reservoir engineering and flow assurance
 Subsea System Development
 Risk, Reliability and Availability
 Fabrication and Testing
 Component
 Qualification
 Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT)
 System Integration Testing (SIT)
 Installation and Operation
 Inspection, Maintenance and Repair (IMR)
 Decommissioning
 System Design

 Subsea System Design Options

 Host facility, tie-backs, well arrangements
 Diver vs. diverless
 Control system options
 Horizontal vs. vertical Xmas Trees
 Steel vs. thermoplastic umbilical, vs. Control Buoy
 Infield flowlines - flexible vs. rigid (carbon steel vs. CRA)
 Riser options
 Materials and corrosion inhibition
 Manifold configurations and pigging
 CAPEX and OPEX (capital & operational expenditure)
 Risk
 Field Development Options

 Fixed Platform Tieback

 Semi-submersible FPS

 Tension Leg Platform (TLP)

 FPSO

 Spar FPS

 Subsea to Beach
Host facilities
 Fixed Platform Tieback

 Use subsea to access reservoirs outside platform reach

 Tie in wells from nearby blocks
 Satellite and well clusters may be used
 Semi-submersible FPS
 Both oil and gas are exported by pipeline
 Satellites, well clusters, and template manifolds may be
used
 Tension Leg Platform (TLP)
 Most wells are surface trees from central drilling center
 Use subsea to produce reservoir areas outside TLP drilling
reach
 Oil and gas are exported by pipeline
 Satellites and well clusters may be used
 Shipshape FPSO
 Facilities on vessel for full separation and processing
 Storage of oil and gas; export via pipeline or tanker
 Use where no other infrastructure is available, e.g. Africa
 Satellites and well clusters may be used
 SPAR FPS

 Taut moored
 Most wells are surface trees from central drilling center
 Use subsea to produce reservoir areas outside SPAR drilling
reach
 Oil and gas are exported by pipeline
 Satellites and well clusters may be used
 Subsea to Beach

 Flow well fluids direct to shore

 Produce reservoir areas in extreme depths
 Satellites and well clusters may be used
 Control buoys used for long step-outs
 Subsea Well Arrangements

 Satellite

 Cluster

 Template

 Daisy-chain
 Subsea Well Arrangements

Satellite Wells

 Individual wells are tied directly to a host facility

 Tiebacks can be single or multiple wells
 Hosts can be shallow water platform, TLP, SPAR, FPS, FPSO, etc
 Subsea Well Arrangements

Satellite Wells PETROBAS ALBACORA

 Semisubmersible FPS

 Multiple satellite well short

distance (1-3 mile) tie-
back

 Flexible pipe flowlines

and risers

 Oil transported to an FSO

and gas to shore via
pipeline

 Water Depth 600-1000 m

 Subsea Well Arrangements

Cluster Manifold

 Wells are drilled in close proximity and produce through a common

manifold
 Batch drilling and completion are common
 Components are small easily deployed modular units
 Subsea Well Arrangements

Cluster Manifold GEMINI SUBSEA DEVELOPMENT

 28-mile tieback to
Viosca Knoll 900

 3-well cluster

 Wells close proximity

to manifold (50 ft)

 Water Depth: 3400 ft

 Subsea Well Arrangements

Template Manifold

 Wells are drilled and completed through template manifold

 Central drilling center
 Well targets reached via directional drilling
 May have satellite wells tied back to manifold
 Subsea Well Arrangements

Template Manifold ENSERCH COOPER GB388

 Semisubmersible based FPS

 54-mile export lines to Eugene

Island 325

 24-slot template manifold near

FPS

 Free Standing production riser

 3-well template manifold tieback

from GB 387

 Water Depth: 2190 ft

 Subsea Well Arrangements

Daisy-Chain Tie-in

 Simple tie-in method

 Less complex structures
 Loss of a well (dropped object or problems during drilling/ completion
programme) less catastrophic
 Risk, Reliability and Availability

 Risk
 Risk = [Frequency or Likelihood] x
Consequence
 ALARP - As Low As Reasonably
Practicable
 Project Risk Management
 Integrating risk with project
economics
 Reliability of subsea equipment
 Influence of equipment reliability
on system availability
 Risk, Reliability and Availability

 Risk
 Subsea Development Phases

 System Design
 Concept, Front End Engineering (FEED), Detail
 Reservoir engineering and flow assurance
 Subsea System Development
 Risk, Reliability and Availability
 Fabrication and Testing
 Component
 Qualification
 Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT)
 Site Integration Testing (SIT)
 Installation and Operation
 Inspection, Maintenance and Repair (IMR)
 Decommissioning
 Fabrication

 Weight / Size Limits selection of fabrication shops

Road transport constraints
Limits selection of installation vessels

 Schedule Long lead items- CRA materials

- Valves
- Umbilicals/Jumpers

 Welding Weld procedure qualifications

Weld testing/corrosive environment

 Complexity Joint design, assembly, access

 Testing

 Component Testing
 Ensure the component functions reliably
within specified limits, i.e. is fit for purpose
 Qualification Testing
 Prove a component or assembly is fit for
the intended application
 Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT)
 Demonstrate the correct functionality and
integrity of an assembly FAT testing of SCMs

 System Integration Testing (SIT)

 Verify the correct fit and operation of the
overall system
 System Integration Testing

A vital step in confirming the integrity of the Subsea System

Integration testing of a subsea system
 Proves the mechanical and
software interfaces
 Demonstrates the
functionality of the complete
system
 Demonstrates functionality
of installation tooling Hook up of CDU and trees
 Train offshore personnel !!!!
 Demonstrate
interchangeability
 System Integration Testing
Integration Testing of a subsea system
 Subsea Development Phases

 System Design
 Concept, Front End Engineering (FEED), Detail
 Reservoir engineering and flow assurance
 Subsea System Development
 Risk, Reliability and Availability
 Fabrication and Testing
 Component
 Qualification
 Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT)
 System Integration Testing (SIT)
 Installation and Operation
 Inspection, Maintenance and Repair (IMR)
 Decommissioning
 Subsea Field Operations

 Subsea System Operational Considerations

 System commissioning
 Start-up
 Operation
 Shutdown
 Reliability of subsea equipment
 Failures
 Maintenance
 Well Intervention
 Decommissioning
 Inspection, Maintenance and
Repair / Intervention

 Tasks include
 Monitoring of equipment condition
 Retrieval of modules (chokes, control pods)
 Operation of valves
 Methods
 Divers - saturation and hardsuits
 Remotely operated vehicles (ROV)
 Remotely operated tools (ROT)

Subsea Heat Exchangers
Subsea Separation/Boosting
Downhole Separation/Boosting
Multiphase Flow Pumps
Pipeline HIPPS system
Well or Field Isolation
Tie-ins/Future Expansion
Annulus Monitoring/Venting
Gas Lift/Injection/Disposal
Water Injection
Hydrate Inhibition
Corrosion Inhibition
Paraffin Wax Removal/Inhibition
Scale Removal/Inhibition
Anchored or DP
Lay/derrick barge
Diving Support Vessel (DSV)
Multi-Service Vessel (MSV)
Drilling Rig
Supply/Work Boat
Venturi per Well
Test Header + Test Flowline
Single MPFM + Test Header
MPFM per Well
Protection/Anti-snagging
Weight Limitations for Installation
Transportation (Road / Ship)
Foundations (Pile or Mudmat)
Support for other equipment
Carbon Steel vs CRA
Corrosion Inhibition
Corrosion Monitoring (eg FSM)
Intelligent Pigging
Topsides/Subsea Pig Launcher
Pigging Loop/Dual Pipelines
Individual Lines to each Well/Manifold
Metered Subsea Distribution System
Direct Hydraulic
Multiplexed Electrohydraulic Thermoplastic Hoses
Umbilicals Steel Tube Umbilicals
Special Equipment Control System
ISU Integrated Service Umbilical
Control Buoy
VHF/UHF/Microwave Line of Sight
Communications
Geostationary Satellite
LEO Low Earth Orbit Satellite
Fibre Optic
TLP
Facilities/Services Floating Production System Semi-sub
Host Facility Fixed Platform FPSO
Onshore Facility Spar
Xmas Trees Horizontal
Conventional (Vertical)
Installation Spread Individual Flowlines/Jumpers
Infield Gathering
Daisy-Chain
Manifold
Subsea System
Building Blocks Steel Catenary/Lazy-Wave
Import/Export Risers Flexibles
Well testing Hybrid
SSIV
Diver/ROV/ROT
Connection Systems
Flange
Structural Remote Tie-Ins Vertical
Horizontal
None
Topsides Dehydration
Infield Processing
Topsides Compression
Subsea Dehydration
Pipeline Corrosion Subsea Compression
Satellite Wells (Vertical or Deviated)
Cluster Manifold Wells (Usually Deviated)
Well arrangements
Template Manifold Wells (Deviated)
Chemical Injection Distributed Tie-In
Daisy-Chain
 The Present

 Continuing Challenges
 Changes in business practices
 Marginal Field Economics
 Deep waters require new
approaches
 Vessel costs and availability for
installation
 Market size justifies
development costs
 Health, safety and the
environment
 Politics! (not everything can be
solved by engineering and
technology)