Page 429 - Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production Second Edition

416 Incremental Development

production and
processing facilities

sea level

production
export & control
subsea
satellite

mature field new field
Figure 17.11 Satellite development.

Whether on land or offshore, the principle of satellite development is the same.
A new field is accessed with wells, and an export link is installed to the existing
(host) facility. Development is not always easier on land, as environmental
restrictions mean that some onshore fields have to be developed using directional
drilling techniques (originally associated with offshore developments). A vertical
well can be drilled offshore away from the host facility, and the well completed
using a subsea wellhead (Figure 17.11).
The role that a host facility plays in an incremental development project can vary
tremendously. At one extreme, all production and processing support may be
provided by the host (such as gas lift and water treatment). On the other, the host
may just become a means of accessing an export pipeline (if a production and
processing facility is installed on the new field).

17.5.1. Extended reach development
One form of incremental development is ERD, to access either remote reserves
within an existing field or reserves in an adjacent accumulation. Provided the new
hydrocarbons are similar to those of the declining field, production can be processed
using existing facilities without significant upgrading. If no spare drilling slots are
available, old wells may have to be plugged and abandoned to provide slots for new
extended reach wells (Figure 17.12).
In such cases, the development scheme for the original reserves may have to be
modified to make processing capacity available for the new hydrocarbons. The
economics of such a scheme can be affected negatively if substantial engineering
modifications have to made to meet new safety legislation. For more background to
ERD refer to Section 4.5, Chapter 4.