Subsea Active Production Technologies
Subsea Active Production Technologies focuses on the subsea equipment and subsystems needed to enable deep-offset Long Distance Delivery Systems. The number and type of powered subsea production/processing system components in use is expected to increase markedly in the future. INTECSEA’s combination of mechanical and electrical expertise and systems engineering focus allows INTECSEA to add value to projects wherein subsea powered (and/or unpowered) systems should be considered and/or applied.
The emergence of large, reliable subsea multiphase pumps creates opportunities for providing flow energy via pressure boost where the technical challenges of deepwater, remote locations or low reservoir pressure have previously prevented economic development. Opportunities for boosting existing production from subsea tie-backs and prolonging the life of depleted reservoirs also exist.
Electric flowline heating has emerged as a reliable flow assurance technique with a number of concepts for direct or indirect heating available. The application for electric flowline heating includes pre-start-up heating, wax and hydrate prevention and remediation, and temperature maintenance. INTECSEA has worked closely with Shell Oil Company in developing their electrically heated flowline applications. INTECSEA holds patent rights for Shell Electric Flowline heating technology, making this technology available to the industry.
The Virtual Control Buoy (VCB) is a new concept for the control of remote subsea gas wells. The VCB uses an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) called a seaglider to carry out the control and communication function. The seaglider provides a cheaper and more robust means of control than long distance umbilicals, or even control buoys. The concept uses a number of existing proven technologies in a new way which could provide technical and economic benefits for many of the large gas developments off the Northwest Shelf of Australia, and in some other areas with remote subsea gas. A fleet of two or three seagliders drifts above each subsea wellhead, communicating with the subsea wellhead by acoustics, and with the onshore control facility by Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite. Each glider uses GPS to track its position, and if it drifts outside its watch circle, it autonomously submerges, and glides underwater, re-emerging on location. As the umbilical is eliminated, the wellheads would be self-powered, using one of numerous technologies proposed and trialed over the years.
Some of the subsea equipment required for new deep-offset production systems will be proven equipment normally in use, some will be emerging technology, and some will be developmental. On a particular project, INTECSEA will identify equipment requirements, will prepare specifications, will participate in equipment development and/or qualification on behalf of clients, and will provide management and engineering services required to assure that equipment is designed, procured, installed, commissioned, and operated in accordance with system requirements.
An integrated, optimized, high integrity subsea solution, where the benefits of subsea separation, subsea pumping, and flowline heating are objectively evaluated and implemented, requires a multidiscipline approach from concept through to operation. INTECSEA has the multidiscipline skills and experience necessary to undertake projects of this type.
Subsea Active Production Technologies expertise will be applied in specification, selection, design, analysis, test, procurement, installation, and operation of several subsea powered systems including:
- Pipeline/riser/flowline electric heating systems
- Subsea and/or downhole processing equipment
- Subsea chemical distribution
- Subsea multiphase pumps and/or wet gas compressors
- Subsea single-phase pumps and compressors
- Control/Service/Service Buoys/Mini-spars
- Long distance power/communications umbilicals
- Long distance wireless communications
- Subsea power delivery/distribution
- Subsea power generation
- Buoyancy generation
- Hulls and hydrodynamic performance
- Subsea acoustic communication
- GPS navigation
- Virtual mooring mode
Downloadable Files:
- Subsea Processing Poster PDF
- EFH Slideshows
- Virtual Control Buoy
Systems Engineering
- Flow Assurance and Operability
- Complete System Designs
- Thermal-Hydraulic Simulations
- Hydrate Prediction, Inhibition,
and Remediation - Production Chemistry –
Wax and Asphaltene Management - Production Chemistry – Scale Management
- Slug Prediction and Slug Catcher Sizing
- Production/Flow System Operability
- Production System Design
- Flow Assurance and Operability
Design Stages - Analysis Tools
- Subsea Engineering
- Subsea Active Production Technologies
- Offshore Wind
- Interface Management
- Construction Management
- Project Management
- Materials Engineering
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