Objective
Scope of this project is the development of a new generation of subsea system, specifically conceived for hydrocarbon production in deep (200-600 m w. d.) and very deep (beyond 600 m) waters, including a dedicated maintenance device.
Main results of the project are the specifications of the production system, the maintenance system and the operative procedures.
PRODUCTION SYSTEM
The modular production system has the following features.
A rectangular platform, called "flowline frame", is located on the drilling well-head. The X-mas tree is lodged on the central part of the flowline frame right upon the well-head. The flowline connection system is located on one end of the flowline frame and the control system and umbilical connection on the opposite side. In order to perform pigging operations from shore, two flowlines and two service lines will be layed.
Three landing areas are prepared for the maintenance vehicle : the first one on the flowline connection area, the second one on the opposite side on the control system area and the third one upon the X-mas tree.
Positioned on the first one, the subsea vehicle, can install the flowline connectors and perform mechanical override of the X-mas tree valves that, inorder to simplify the operations, are located on the same front side.
MAINTENANCE SYSTEM
The philosophy of the maintenance operations is to bring to surface the defective components in order to repair or substitute and reinstall them on the production system. This has been obtained modularizing the production system and interfacing it to dedicated work modules of the maintenance system. The maintenance system consists of the following modules;
- A non floating main vehicle hanged on a strenght cable, called Master Vehicle.
- Six work modules connected in turn to the MV in order to perform specific functions.
- The surface handling system and control system.
The object of the research is the evaluation of the feasibility of sub-sea production systems which do not require divers ("DIVERLESS" systems) or guidelines ("GUIDELINELESS" systems) for installation, operation and maintenance. Therefore, the concepts of maintenance studied in previous projects will be transferred into a purpose designed operating system and the design a subsea christmas tree suitable for use in deep and very deep waters (including flowline connection system and maintenance device) will be produced.
The design of the maintenance device will be made simultaneously with the system to be serviced, in order to obtain an intervention tool integrated in the system, with obvious advantages from the operating point of view, and consequently improved reliability. The prototype construction and long-term tests (scope of the phase II and III of the project) will allow the evaluation of the system's functioning and reliability.
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
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DEM - Demonstration contractsCoordinator
20097 S. Donato Milanese (MILANO)
Italy