Heated Production Pipelines

09 November, 2011

RETURN TO LISTINGS

Heated Production Pipelines

 

9 November 2011 Aberdeen Branch Evening Meeting

Chairman David Kaye, Engineering Manager, Aquamarine Power

Sponsored by Technip

 

Report PDF file

 

Flyer PDF file

 

Overview

More challenging subsea field developments need more sophisticated technology to export reservoir fluids back to host processing facilities. This evening meeting looked at recent developments in the active heating of subsea production pipelines. The evening’s programme included two recent pipeline case histories using different types of heating technology, the demand for the technology from the perspective of the process engineer, and a short technology bite on a new and related technology for pipeline cleaning.

 

Presentations

The Industrialisation of Electrically Trace Heated Pipe in Pipe (ETH-PIP)

Rob Fisher – Project Manager, Technip UK Limited

This presentation covered the industrialisation of Electrically Trace Heated Pipe-in-Pipe, a new pipeline technology which provides the last piece of the jigsaw in the flow assurance puzzle. Rob discussed qualification, industrialisation and the product’s first ever installation as part of Total’s Islay field development in the UK North Sea.

 

Apache Bacchus Project

Mark Richardson – Subsea Projects Manager, Apache North Sea

The Bacchus Project comprises three subsea production wells tied back to the Forties Alpha platform via a 6.8km subsea bundle. The new riser caisson was installed in late 2010 with the bundle being installed in March 2011. The topsides modifications and subsea infrastructure are now mechanically complete and pre-commissioned with drilling the first well being the critical path to first oil.

 

Flow Assurance, Thermal Management of Subsea Systems

Ratnam Sathananthan – Global Flow Assurance Manager, Subsea7

As subsea oil & as production extends into ever deeper waters, effective flow assurance can offer greatly enhanced systems with superior availability, deliverability and operability throughout field life. Using the philosophy “Design from the Inside”, thermal management within subsea production systems helps to effectively manage wax/hydrates and enhances production. The author foresees a need for systems that can improve economics from deepwater fields.

 

Techbite Slot

John Burns – Pipeline Cleaning Solutions PDF file

A 5–10 minute presentation highlighting a technology capability that has been the subject of an initial investigative project with ITF to prove a new concept for removal of sand and debris from pipes. With wider applications for cleaning tanks, wireline equipment and chemical removal, this project is gaining traction in the industry and is moving to another phase.