Subsea Technology Challenges in the CaspianSubtech07 –”Mind the Gap”
Alan Edwards – Lead Subsea EngineerShah Deniz Stage 2 Project
Agenda
• Caspian overview
• Shah Deniz field
• Subsea technology challenges
• Approach to addressing technology gaps
• Longer term Caspian needs
Caspian overview
SCP Pipeline Route
0 300 km200100
Caspian Sea
Turkey
Iran
IraqSyria
Russia
Georgia
Baku
Ceyhan
Erzurum
KazakhstanBlack Sea
Tbilisi
Med.
Sea
AzerbaijanTurkmenistan
SCP
WER Pipeline
BTC
NER Pipeline
Supsa
Grozny
Novorossiysk
Batumi
0 300 km200100
Caspian Sea
Turkey
Iran
IraqSyria
Russia
Georgia
Baku
Ceyhan
Erzurum
KazakhstanBlack Sea
Tbilisi
Med.
Sea
AzerbaijanTurkmenistan
SCP
WER Pipeline
BTC
NER Pipeline
Supsa
Grozny
Novorossiysk
Batumi
• BP in Azerbaijan since 1992
• ACG oil production since 1997
• Shah Deniz gas production since 2006
• BTC pipeline – 1760km to Med Coast
• SCP pipeline – to Erzurum, Turkey
• Sangachal – world-scale onshore terminal
• Geographically isolated
− Caspian landlocked region
− Limited access via river/canals
• Water injection facilities on ACG field, first subsea facilities in the Caspian
Shah Deniz - field overview
• High-pressure gas-condensate reservoirs
• 100km from Sangachal
• Water depths vary from 50m to 550m
• Major geo-hazards to negotiate
• Stage 1 operating since Dec 06
− Jack-up platform dry-tree concept
SD PSASangachal
Baku
SD-A sail-away 2006
láä=Éñéçêí
paJ^
láä=Éñéçêíláä=Éñéçêí
paJ^
Shah Deniz Stage 2 development concept
• Develop remainder of appraised field
• ALL SUBSEA DEVELOPMENT
− Additional 16-32 production wells
− Fully diver-less system
− Shallow water production platform
• Project feasibility demonstrated
• Early front-end engineering commenced
• First gas circa 2013
• Major subsea challenges
− Large-scale subsea development
− First subsea production system in Caspian
− 15k subsea technology
− Flow assurance
− Limited regional infrastructure
− In-country vendor support
21km
10km
21km
10km
Subsea development concept
• Focus on
− “No industry firsts”
− Long term equipment reliability
− Field standardisation
• 15k subsea trees
− Reviewing rig capabilities
• Subsea pressure protection systems (HIPPS) for flowlines
− 15k experience limited to North Sea developments
• Cluster manifolds (4 slot)
− Flexibility to drilling uncertainty
• Multiple manifolds on a piggable flowline loop
Subsea reliability – “it must work”
• Key concern for subsea systems
• Limited in-country support elevates the issue in the Caspian
• Long-term gas contracts increases emphasis on field-life reliability and availability
• Application of BP Reliability Strategy to systematically and rigorously address key issues:
Reliability stretch Technology Architecture Environment Resources
Technology Plan
Enabling Technologies
• 15k tree systems
• Pressure Protection Systems (HIPPS)
• Wet-Gas meters
• HP chemical injection
• HP diver-less connectors
Value improving technologies
• Direct Electrical Heating (DEH)
Qualification
• BP defines “Technology Readiness Level” (TRL) requirements for each project stage
− Subsea technologies “field proven” at system level
− Developing detailed plan for early front-end engineering to ensure requirements satisfied at component level.
Equipment selection
• Technology gap assessment being performed across vendors in conjunction with other BP Projects – determine TRL
• Qualification plans to be developed with interested vendors to determine development and qualification activities required to satisfy Shah Deniz project needs
• Early collaborative qualification work with selected vendors focussed on closing key technology gaps.
• Early commitment on key technologies
Future developments
• Exciting major new gas-condensate discovery in the Shah Deniz field announced by BP in Nov 07
• Deeper horizons with very high reservoir pressures
• Likely requirement for 20k subsea technology
• Subsea technology development programme required
Summary
• Caspian Sea set to be a major subsea region
• Current projects pushing the boundaries of existing technology capabilities
• Regional issues further emphasise the need for long-term reliability for subsea equipment
• Collaborative approach with vendors proposed to qualify technology
• Further exciting major future development likely to require 20k subsea technology