PRODUCTION OPERATIONS

AND MAINTENANCE
PAB 2073

Topic outline
Operating and maintenance objectives
Developing FDP: Requirement for
production operations

Importance of Production
Operations and Maintenance
During development phase, important to
define how the field will be produced and
operate and how the facilities will be
maintained
Early input into FDP is required to
incorporate the production and
maintenance modes into the design of the
facilities

Objectives of POM
Example of Op. & Maint. Objectives of a project:
Maximising economic recovery of hydrocarbons
Ensuring that agreed quantities of hydrocarbons are
delivered to customer on time, to specification and in
safe manner
Ensuring an uptime of 98%
Minimising manpower offshore
Provide safe working condition for workers and
contractors
Comply with all local legislation
Provide certain levels of employment within local
community

Production Operations Input to FDP

During preparation of FDP, production
operations will set how the field will be
operated in areas:
Production
Manning
Logistics
Communications
Cost control

Production

Product quality specification

Contractual agreements
Capacity and availability
Concurrent operations
Monitoring and control
Testing and metering
Standardisation
Flaring and venting
Waste disposal
Utilities systems

 Product quality
specification
Stabilised crude with
BS&W less than 0.5% and
salinity of 70 g/m3
Water effluent quality less
than 100 ppm

Contractual agreements
Agreed fiscalisation points

Capacity and availability

Of separator, water
treatment tank, gas
compressor, etc

Concurrent operations
Performing simultaneous
activities of production and
drillling (SIPROD)
Safety vs. cost
Operation mode if in
SIPROD

 Monitoring and control

Combination of
instrumentation and control
equipment and manual
Record daily WHTHP

Computer Assisted
Operations (CAO)
Collect data to automatic
operation of field
Unmanned offshore platform
remote control from
onshore
Benefits from accurate
monitoring and control:
Increased production
rates
Reduced OPEX
Reduced CAPEX
Increased safety
Improved environmental
protection
Improved data base

Example: Optimisation of
gas in gas lift system

 Testing
production rate of
each well
Test separator, MPFM
Individual well tested
by passing the
production through the
test separator and
then shut in the well
and calculate the
production rate from
reduction in rate

Metering
required for fiscal
(taxation), tariff
As product leaves the
production platform or
as it arrives at the
delivery point

 Standardisation of
equipment
Use same specification,
brand of equipment
Benefits
Reduced design and
capex
Reduced spares stock
Less operating procedures
Less training

Drawbacks

Flaring and venting

policies
Maximum allowable limits
Anticipate future legislation
and determine if it is
necessary to incorporate
into initial design
Flare, venting required
during process shutdown

 Waste disposal
Waste discharged to sea or
land
Drill cuttings, sewage,
food, empty drums/crates,
used lubricants, used
coolants, drain discharges

Effluents discharged to air

Hydrocarbon gases
Coolant vapours
Noise
Light

Utilities systems
Power system (fuel gas
and diesel)
Sea water and potable
water treatment system
Chemicals and lubrication
oils
Alarm and shutdown
system
Fire protection and fire
fighting system
Instrument and utility air
system

Manning
Manned or unmanned
Every offshore requires accommodation,
transport, administrative support, management
and back-up to operate a shift system
Is manned then need life saving systems,
recreation room, radio telecommunication
facilities, medical and sick-bay facilities
Thus, go for minimum manning safer and
cheaper

Logistics
Organisation of transport of people and
supply and storage of materials
Depends on mode of manning
Transport of people by helicopter, by sea
(supply boat/general purpose boat, or fast
crew boat (FCB)
Choice depends on distance from shore to
offshore platform
Materials transport use supply boat

Communications
Internal: Telephone, radio, walkie-talkie,
navigation, air-ground-air, public address
External: telephone, telex, fax, VHF radio,
satellite links