Subsea Production Assurance Service

Unlock the full productivity potential of subsea assets

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ones that fit your business needs. That is why we

develop solutions with you—not just for you.

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most advanced technologies in the business.

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Subsea Production Assurance serviceUnlock the full productivitypotential of subsea assets

Apply Schlumberger project management, system engineering, and technology expertise to the design of integrated, scalable

systems suited to all phases of subsea field development.

Applications■ Monitoring and control

■ Flow assurance

■ Flow boosting

■ Production allocation

■ Extended-reach tieback developments

Technologies■ Intelligent well systems (downhole measurement

and flow control)

■ Sensa* fiber-optic distributed temperature measure-ment for wellbore and seafloor applications

■ Seabed instrumentation (sand detection and corro-sion monitoring)

■ Oilphase* fluid sampling and analysis service

■ PVT* pressure-volume-temperature software

■ PVT Express* onsite well fluid analysis service

■ Subsea Monitoring and Control (SMC) module

■ REDA* electrical submersible pumping (ESP) systems

■ Camco* gas lift and subsurface safety systems

■ XLift* high-pressure gas lift system

■ Vx* multiphase well testing

■ Framo® multiphase pumps, wet-gas compressions,and water injection

■ InterACT* real-time monitoring and data delivery

■ PIPESIM* and FieldView* modeling and field datamanagement software

■ dbrHydrate,* dbrSOLIDS,* and PVT ReCORD* engineering software

Benefits■ Enables full production and reservoir management

functionalities in intelligent subsea wells

■ Allows substantial cost savings through the elimina-tion of overdesigned well and subsea infrastructures

■ Reduces interface engineering efforts and costs

■ Enhances system reliability through monitoring anddiagnostics

■ Minimizes the need for intervention

■ Allows revitalization of existing systems, as well ascommercialization of deeper, more-distant, and more-marginal opportunities

■ Helps delay abandonment of subsea wells throughimproved pressure management

■ Optimizes the flow assurance loop and leads toreduced costs for prevention and remediation

■ Identifies potential production problems using distrib-uted sensors in the well and on the flowlines and risers

Features■ Open, scalable subsea local area network (LAN)

■ Customized flow-boosting solutions

■ Integrated fluid sampling, laboratory analysis, andpredictive modeling

■ Real-time monitoring and control of subsurface andseafloor assets

■ Event detection and alarm notification

■ Flexible design with retrievable, upgradeable systems

■ Compatibility with any type of subsea hosting structure

■ Seamless handling of reservoir, wellbore, and seabeddata at required transmission rates

Subsea ProductionAssurance service >>

The most efficient interface for reducing risk and maximizing productionSecuring and optimizing production is crucial for any subsea development. The Schlumberger subsea ProductionAssurance* service for optimizing and assuring hydrocarbonproduction from subsea fields is the answer. It provides asuite of expert services designed to safeguard and optimizethe subsea productivity chain from the reservoir to produc-tion facilities. This total, modular approach reduces devel-opment risks and yields substantial cost savings andoperational efficiencies.

Key components are flow surveillance, flow boosting, andflow assurance—all enabled by the SMC platform.

What sets the subsea Production Assurance service apartis a unique combination of discipline- and data-driven deci-sion systems, using proven oilfield technologies and anintegrated project management process.

The Production Assurance service is applicable from front-end engineering and design through all subsequent subseadevelopment stages. It is fully supported by Schlumbergerproject managers and systems engineers.

Realizing the asset’s productivity potential Because of cost and risk, intervention is not routinely per-formed on subsea wells. This is one of the reasons that theproduction performance of subsea wells is only 75% that of comparable land and platform wells. It is estimated that this 25% subsea performance gap costs our industry USD 10 billion per year.

The subsea Production Assurance service offers flow-surveillance, flow-boosting, and flow-assurance technologies to optimize production.

Subsea productivity chain

Flow boosting(pressure management)

Surveillance(subsea monitoring and control)

Flow assurance(prevention and treatment optimization)

Wellbore(reservoir monitoring and control)

The low-risk way to close the productivity gap is to base the decision-making process on greater access to system data. Subsea Production Assurance measurements,monitoring, and production services provide the most effi-cient interface to obtain the information that will help yourealize the full potential of your subsea asset.

Factual data are key to subsea productivityAs field productivity and process optimization continue tolower the risks of subsea developments and enhance pro-duction, data play a pivotal role in driving the subsea pro-ductivity process.

The answer to increased subsea productivity is real-timedata combined with scalable, integrated, pore-to-processsystems. Data-rich solutions offer a better understandingof hydrocarbon flow from the pore space, into the bore-hole, through subsurface and subsea hardware, to the pro-cessing facilities.

Greater value is realized when real-time data are part ofa closed continuous surveillance loop that includes analysis,decision making, and reservoir drainage control. This istotal management of the reservoir-to-production system.

Total surveillance can be achieved with a combination of multiple acquisition sensors and control devices in thewellbore, on the seabed, and along the flowlines.

The key is to establish connectivity among these variousmeasurement devices so they are a part of a complete sub-sea enterprise, rather than isolated and discrete components.

While surface-based systems deliver large, secure volumesof data around the world, the conventional seafloor infra-structure remains a bottleneck, slowing the flow of data.Eliminating this bottleneck opens the subsea domain andimproves an operator’s ability to make informed productivitydecisions. What is needed is a high-bandwidth seafloor dataacquisition system.

Data are also important for subsea system reliabilitySubsea Production Assurance data and services enableinformation-based decision processes that lead to maximumproduction while substantially reducing the need for costlyinterventions. These benefits are enabled through continu-ous monitoring and diagnosis of key production devices inthe wellbore and on the seabed, and they support the appli-cation of advanced technologies that cannot be deployedthrough conventional systems.

More than ever, diagnostics are limiting and preventingcatastrophic failures. The increased availability of detaileddata helps prevent equipment failure and provides alertsthat can prevent human errors.

Total management of the reservoir-to-production system is realized when data, constantly monitored for quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), are partof a continuous surveillance closed loop that includes analysis, decision making, and reservoir drainage control.

System diagnostics and controlData management and optimization

AdviserHistorianDatabase

Surface

Subsurface

Datamanagement

Answers and decisions

Transmisison and analysis

Dataacquisition

QA/QCBack

allocationGas lift

optimizationEvent

alarming

Subseaequipmentdiagnostics

Facility control—InterACT system for remote operations

Topside data hub

Subseadata hub

Subsea monitoringand control data

Reservoir monitoringand control data

Monitor and control all performanceaspects of your subsea infrastructureFlow surveillance enables key serv-ices in the productivity chain, suchas flow boosting and flow assuranceservices.

The ideal system for measuring,analyzing, and monitoring the pro-ductivity of a subsea field starts inthe wellbore and continues throughthe subsea installations and pipingto the processing facilities. It includesan extended LAN, conforming toindustry-adopted standards, thatgathers and transmits accurate datareliably so that the various subseasystems can interact seamlessly atoptimal transmission rates. The idealflow-surveillance system incorpo-rates an open, scalable communica-tions network that enables advancedmonitoring and control of your sys-tem and reduces risk by allowingdecisions to be based on knowledgegained from actual measurements.

The ideal flow-surveillance systemdelivers measurements—includingpressure, fiber-optic distributed tem-perature, downhole or seabed multi-phase flow, and fluid properties—to support decisions that maximizeproduction, such as opening or closing wellbore valves, boostingpump output, or controlling flowlinemethanol injection during hydratestreatment.

The SMC module—the ideal systemfor subsea monitoring and controlThe Schlumberger SMC platform isa next-generation seabed networkfor downhole and subsea devices. It can be mounted on any seabedstructure, and it uses field powerand communication lines to transmitdata to surface. State-of-the-art com-munications allow flexible use ofwhatever transmission mode isavailable, from high-speed optics to standard copper lines.

The SMC platform is

■ open architecture, designed withplug-and-play capabilities

■ enabled for fiber-optic communica-tion and measurements and distrib-uted temperature sensors (DTS)

■ complementary to other subseacontrol systems

■ compliant with the Intelligent WellInterface Standardization (IWIS)initiative

■ flexible and retrievable using work-class remotely operated vehicle(ROVs)

■ designed by Schlumberger domainexperts in reservoir evaluation,well completions, subsea controls,and ROV tooling.

Flow surveillance >>

The SMC platform enables connectivity with the reservoir.

SMC platform

Subsea monitoring and control data

Data from seabed devices

Data from reservoir andwellbore instruments

Floating productionstorage and offloading

Multiphase Vx flowmeterMultiphase

pump

Sand andcorrosiondetector

Flowlinemeasurements

ESP

Pressure and temperature sensors

DTS

Flow control valve

Manifold

CommunicationsCentral to the SMC system is the sub-sea data hub, which channels bothcommunications and power for sub-sea and downhole devices. It alsoallows third-party interface cards andinput/output devices to communi-cate with the subsea LAN.

The subsea data hub communicateswith the topside data hub via a dedi-cated copper or fiber-optic line orlocally over a serial link with the pro-duction tree subsea control module.

When there is a dedicated fiber-optic link between the surface andsubsea SMC system, dual opticalmodems in the surface rack and in the subsea module provide redundant, dedicated, high-speed

A subsea system can be monitored and controlled from anywhere in the world through a communications link between the SMC module and the InterACT real-timemonitoring and data delivery system.

Platformhistorian InterACT system

Proprietary production control system communications

Dedicated high-bandwidth monitoring and control system communication

Satelliteor existing

network link

Production master control station

Production subsea control module

Seabed and downholesensors

Topsidedata hub

Subseadata hub

communications. The fiber-opticmodem is linked to Ethernet switcheson both data hub systems—creatinga surface-to-subsea LAN. The band-width provided by the optical modemsis adaptable and self-optimizing. Itselects either 10 or 100 MB/s or serialcommunications as a function of the

inverse relationship between datarate and distance. This adaptabledata-rate system permits communi-cation over distances exceeding 95 miles [150 km] without the use of repeaters.

Image courtesy of Bluewater.

Flow assuranceand flow boosting >>

Move hydrocarbons to the production facility with confidenceFlow assurance tasks, which includefluid sampling, laboratory analysis,and predictive modeling, are thebuilding blocks for production sys-tem selection and the design of pre-vention and remediation strategies.A closed optimization loop usesmonitoring, measurements, and sys-tem modeling to achieve improve-ments and control.

Schlumberger offers Oilphase fluidsampling and laboratory analyses andworld-class fluid predictive modeling

techniques to minimize treatmentand remediation costs. Enhancingthe predictive process with real-timedata delivered by the surveillancesystem improves the accuracy offlow-predictive models and closesthe loop on the total system moni-toring and control process.

Proper flow-assurance practicesand advanced fluid-property data solu-tions can eliminate the overtreat-ment caused by designing chemicalapplications for worst-case scenar-ios. The frequency of remedial tech-niques using thermal, chemical, or

mechanical methods can be reduced,and catastrophic problems, such asplugging, can be avoided.

A Sensa DTS system can bedeployed to acquire temperaturemeasurements along a seabed pipe-line, and the data can be modeledfrequently for dynamic temperaturecontrol to prevent the formation ofwax and hydrate deposits.

An iterative workflow uses available real-time data to ensure subsea flow is optimized.

Modeling

Prevention strategy

Systemselection

Remediationstrategy

Model conditioning

Changing fluid properties

Optimization loopLab analysis

Sampling

Optimizationmonitoring and control

Apply pressure at the right time, in the right placeAs our industry responds to demandfor economic development of smallerfields and those distant from existinginfrastructures, production from sub-sea systems often requires lifting andpressure-boosting techniques. Thecost-effectiveness of such systems isgreatly improved by optimal deploy-ment of flow-boosting technologythroughout the wellbore, subsea,and tieback system.

The flow-boosting process beginsin engineering design and continuesthrough installation and operation ofa boosting system that can includeestablished ESP and artificial lift tech-nologies combined with reliableFramo multiphase pumps.

Flow boosting enhances field pro-ductivity through custom solutionsto specific subsea situations. It allows

revitalization of existing systems, aswell as commercialization of deeper,more-distant, and more-marginalopportunities.

Flow-boosting technologies helpmaintain production plateaus asreservoirs mature, and they allowmarginal fields to be developed eco-nomically using tiebacks to theexisting infrastructure.

Long tiebacks from satellites canresult in higher backpressures—upto 2,000 psi at the wellhead—thatprevent wells from flowing naturally.Flow boosting improves natural pro-duction rates and extends well lifeby decreasing those wellhead pres-sures to as little as 50 psi. The num-ber of early well abandonments canthus be reduced.

Pressure management using subsea multiphase pumping systems can deliver significant additionalproduction.

Flow from well

Pressure

Natural production

Increasedproduction

Differentialpressure

Multiphase pump discharge pressure

Flowing wellhead pressure

System resistance

The SMC module interfaces to multiple pressure-boosting devices downhole, on the seafloor, and at surface.

Gas lift valve Surface powerand controls

SMC module

Wellbore dual ESPSubsea multiphase pumpwith multiphase flowmeter

Frequently asked questionsabout subsea Production

Assurance services >>Q: Why would I need subsea Production Assurance services?

A: The typical subsea well produces 25% less than acomparable land or platform well. Critical informationfrom the subsurface and seafloor processes can be usedto manage wellbore production and seafloor transfer ofhydrocarbons. Conventional subsea control pods lackthe ability to move data to the surface at rates sufficientfor timely and accurate analysis. Subsea ProductionAssurance services enable better utilization of existingtechnology and help operators overcome factors thathave been responsible for the productivity shortfall insubsea wells.

Q: At what stage should I consider subsea Production Assuranceservices in my project planning?

A: The services are adapted to subsea developments on a case-by-case basis. This is best done in the designstage when all the pressure-management, flow-assurance,and field-surveillance strategy issues are defined andaddressed. In most cases a surveillance system withhigh-speed networking features is required to enablethese services.

Q: What makes the SMC platform different from the existing production control system?

A: At the heart of the SMC platform is an IWIS Level 3connectivity network. The SMC system is complemen-tary to, but independent of, the production control sys-tem. It provides the functionalities needed to monitorand control devices beyond the safety-critical produc-tion control devices on the tree. SMC deployment andoperations are performed without interrupting or defer-ring production.

In addition the SMC platform is scalable, allowing forincreased data transmission on the seabed when needed(e.g., fiber-optic communication), but it can be reduced tosimply communicate on power lines in less-demandingsituations. Flexibility and scalability are such that theSMC platform is suited for any size job and should beable to deliver the value for which it has been designed.

SMC design, including high bandwidth, self-redundancy,and agile networking capabilities, represents a quantumleap in subsea communications capability.

Q: Why should I consider flow-boosting services fromSchlumberger?

A: Flow boosting can be critical to subsea production,especially when tieback distances are long. Monitoringand controlling both flowline pressure and multiphasepump performance ensures the efficient movement ofhydrocarbons in the flowline and helps to extend theoperating lives of the pumps. Improved production canbe achieved at lower operating costs.

Q: Why should I depend on Schlumberger for flow assurance?

A: Incorporating a monitoring and control strategy in the flow assurance design has two main benefits.

■ It reduces capital expense during the design phase.

■ It maintains the optimum level of chemicals injection,or application of mechanical and thermal methodolo-gies, for prevention and treatment programs over thelife of the field.

An optimized subsea flow-assurance system enableselimination of chemical overtreatment and overdimen-sioned designs for worst-case scenarios.

Q: I run a 1,200-baud system and seem to get by. Why do I needreal-time data?

A: Real-time data are important for managing dynamicevents, such as well startup and reservoir buildup dur-ing well shut-ins. They are also essential for managingprocesses or fast-loop applications like flow boosting,flow-assurance monitoring during dynamic events, flowassurance for slug management, subsea well allocation,other dynamic reservoir events, and protection of sub-sea system components.

Q: How do I deal with large amounts of data?

A: Production Assurance services and subsea monitor-ing provide data for making decisions, and they providethe ability to separate insignificant data from notewor-thy data.

A number of products have been developed bySchlumberger to provide data validation and screeningfunctionality. Schlumberger Data & Consulting Servicesis available to assist with data delivery, screening, andvisualization needs. We can also ensure that any newfunctionality is integrated with your existing systems.

POCKET

To learn more about the subseaProduction Assurance service, visit www.slb.com/oilfield or e-mail wcp@slb.com.

04-PR-075 ©Schlumberger

October 2004 *Mark of Schlumberger

Framo® is a registered trademark of Frank Mohn AS.

Produced by Oilfield Marketing Communications, Houston

www.slb.com/oilfield

Subsea Production Assurance service

Optimizing and assuring hydrocarbon production in subsea wells

FPO

To learn more about the subseaProduction Assurance service, visit www.slb.com/oilfield or e-mail wcp@slb.com.