Page 329 - Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production Second Edition
P. 329

316                                          Production Operations Input to the FDP















                              Drilling Platform 1


                                                                       DP - 2
                                                   single pipeline














               production platform
                                                                       DP - 3
                                                 DP - 4
          Figure 12.3  Centralised vs. remote production testing.




             The benefits of having a test separator on each drilling platform are that
          the individual wells can be tested more frequently and with much greater
          accuracy since they are measured directly. However, this will require either a
          manned operation on the drilling platform or the installation of CAO for remotely
          operating the test separator. A single centralised test separator is cheaper but
          less accurate and can only test the wells at a quarter of the frequency. This is
          an example of the need for the reservoir engineers (who require the data for
          reservoir management) to liaise with the production operations department
          (who require the data for programming) and the facilities engineers who are
          designing the equipment. This discussion must take place whilst planning the field
          development.
             In new developments, test separators may be substituted by multiphase
          metering devices which can quantitatively measure volumes of oil, gas and water
          without the need of separation. This technology is now developed and a viable
          alternative.
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