Page 325 - Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production Second Edition

312 Production Operations Input to the FDP

12.1. Operating and Maintenance Objectives

The production operations and maintenance group will develop a set of
operating and maintenance objectives for the project. This will be a guideline when
specifying the mode of operation and maintenance of the equipment items and
systems, and will incorporate elements of
business objectives
responsibilities to the customer
health safety and environmental management systems
reservoir management
product quality and availability
cost control.
An example of the operating and maintenance objectives for a project might
include statements which cover technical, business and environmental principles,
such as

meeting the company objectives of, say, maximising the economic recovery of
hydrocarbons
ensuring that the agreed quantities of hydrocarbons are delivered to the customer
on time, to specification and in a safe manner
ensuring an uptime of offshore facilities of, say, 98%
minimising manpower offshore
providing a safe working environment for all staff and contractors
complying with all local legislation
measuring hydrocarbon delivery to a specified accuracy
providing certain levels of employment within a local community.

12.2. Production Operations Input to the FDP

When preparing a FDP, the production operations department will become
involved in determining how the field will be operated, with specific reference to
areas such as those shown in Table 12.1.
The following section will indicate some of the considerations which would be
made in each area.

12.2.1. Production

One of the primary objectives of production operations is to deliver product at the
required rate and quality. Therefore, the product quality specification and any agreed
contract terms will drive the activities of the production operations department, and
will be a starting point for determining the preferred mode of operation. The
specifications, such as delivery of stabilised crude with a BS&W of less than 0.5%,
3
and a salinity of 70 g/m , and contractually agreed fiscalisation points (where the