Hjelmeland_subbed.qxp 26/3/09 05:05 Page 54
Successfully Boosting the Mutineer and Exeter Fields Offshore Western Australia
Figure 3: Framo PhaseWatcher Vx Multiphase Flow Meter – Figure 5: Exeter Pump Station Offshore Installation
Dual Hub and Diver-retrievable
represented by very low reservoir pressures. At the same time, full
redundancy was maintained in the critical early phase of field life,
when a major part of the oil was being produced. Finally, there is
capacity in the system to handle higher flow rates than predicted
and thus potentially generate increased revenue for the owners.
Figure 5 shows the installation of the Exeter pump station.
Following an evaluation of the artificial lift options to remedy the
expected trend in reservoir pressure and production decline, the
combined boosting option utilising both seabed pumps and ESPs
was selected for the Mutineer Exeter field development. The decision
Figure 4: Mutineer Exeter Pump Stations During System Integration Test
was taken as this option would generate the best results over time
in terms of production and operation. After start-up in 2005, the
seabed pumping system has shown satisfactory reliability, and
enabled an extension of the production plateu compared with that
predicted, hence also resulting in a postponement of utilisation of
the downhole pumps, which in turn is equivalent to an extension of
the period in which the field has operated with full redundancy.
Currently, the fields require both the ESPs and seabed booster
pumps to be operated to maximise, and optimise, production, as
some of the wells may not free-flow to the seabed pump stations.
This represents a somewhat more challenging scenario in terms of
operation, but will ensure maximised recovery from the fields. The
use of combined boosting systems with downhole pumps in series
with seabed pumps has in the Mutineer Exeter field development
proved to be a robust development solution.
Santos empowered Framo Engineering to take responsibility for
the total system solution by providing the lightweight and
compact subsea manifold and booster stations, in addition to the
power and control umbilicals, as well as the topside swivel stack
system in the FPSO. In this way, Santos as operator ensured that all
interfaces between the subsea and topside systems were resolved
and managed by a single party, enabling smooth project execution
expected, hence making increased production flow rates extremely with subsequent successful installation, commissioning and
attractive. In addition, lower production rates from one field can be operational phases. ■
compensated for by increased production from the other field.
Acknowledgements
Summary The authors wish to thank the operator Santos Ltd and its partners
In summary, the subsea boost system selected for Santos’ Mutineer in the Mutineer and Exeter field development for the permission to
and Exeter fields is designed to protect against the downside, as present the information as outlined in this article.
54
EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION – VOLUME 7 ISSUE 1
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