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.