What's new in production

	Vol. 229 No. 3
VICTOR SCHMIDT, DRILLING ENGINEERING EDITOR, schmidtv@worldoil.com

ULTRASONIC CRUDE-HEATING

Heavy oil comes with production challenges. Its high viscosity makes extraction difficult; its paraffin waxes and asphaltenes (high molecular weight compounds) foul pipes and its often high acidity can corrode equipment.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is developing a technology to help oil producers overcome some heavy crude oil production challenges. The lab has developed a piezoelectric technology that mounts on the outside of production pipe and focuses ultrasonic energy into the center of the oil stream within the pipe.

Using principles of visco-elastic heating, the ultrasound energy heats the oil at around 0.4°C per sec from the inside out. The heating keeps the oil above its cloud point and lowers its viscosity, so that it follows more readily. In contrast, the pipe remains relatively cool. According to PNNL Research Scientist Kayte Denslow, the more viscous the oil, the faster it heats.

To date, researchers have tested the ultrasound process in static tests and flow loops of standard 2-in., Schedule 40, production piping to gauge effectiveness. Denslow notes that the piezoelectric process is up to 95% efficient transforming electrical energy to mechanical energy (oil vibration). While in-hole systems are possible, she hopes to test the technology on above-ground piping before going downhole. The technology would require a number of piezoelectric heaters spaced along the piping to heat the oil to the correct temperature, which depends on the oil’s character.

The technology also has the potential to pre-refine crude in-pipe using acoustic cavitation. This process produces high pressure and temperature conditions, similar to pyrolysis, to break long-chain molecules.

The lab has filed a patent and is looking for a partner to assist with development. Over the next year, PNNL hopes to explore the frequency-amplitude relationships to optimize the process, ruggedize equipment for field use and explore acoustic cavitation for in-pipe processing. For more information contact Andrea Turner at tel: 509-375-3893.

PROJECTS

Petrobras increased the estimate of initial-oil-in-place for its Tupi discovery in the Campos Basin offshore Brazil. The company now places reserves at 12-30 billion boe, a major increase from previous estimates of 1.7-10 billion boe. In early November 2007, the company said that production would begin in 2011 and would reach over 200,000 bopd by 2020. Petrobras is operator with 65% working interest along with partners BG Group (25%) and Galp Energia with 10%.

Elsewhere in the Campos Basin, Pertrobras christened the Petrojarl Cidade de Rio das Ostras FPSO, which will produce extra-heavy oil from the Siri reservoir in Badejo Field. The vessel will become a testing platform for other heavy-oil fields in the Campos Basin. It will process up to 15,000 bopd of 12.8° API gravity oil and store up to 200,000 bbl.

The field’s challenges include drilling and completing wells with a 6,500 ft horizontal section and using a submersible centrifugal pump to move the oil. Once crude is in the vessel, water separation is a challenge as is oil processing at 140°C. The vessel will enter service late in 2008 and be moored 49 mi off the coast in 312-ft water depth.

CNOOC Ltd. is targeting net offshore China production of 195-199 million boe for 2008, compared with their estimated net production of 169-171 million boe for 2007. The company plans 10 new projects, including platforms B, D, E of Penglai 19-3 (phase II), Wenchang Field and Xijiang 23-1. Additional seismic and drilling activities will be conducted in deepwater blocks.

Total capital expenditure is expected to increase to $5.24 billion, a 43.7% increase over 2007. Exploration Capex will reach $1.04 billion, while development Capex will grow to $4.15 billion.

The Tengiz Field expansion in western Kazakhstan will reach its full capacity later in 2008. The $6 billion project has experienced delays and doubled costs from the initial plans. Present output is about 400,000 bopd, with production planned to reach 540,000 bopd later this year, according to a Chevron spokesman. Tengizchevroil is the joint venture consortium in charge of the project. Chevron has a 50% interest with partners KazMunaiGas, 20%, ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Ventures Inc., 25%, and LUKArco holding 5%.

Eni began development of Nikaitchuq Field, just off the North Slope of Alaska in 10 ft of water. The development plan includes 35 producers and 35 injectors, representing a $1.45 billion investment. Most wells will be drilled onshore, but 20 or so wells will be drilled from an artificial island about three miles offshore. Production will be sent to a 40,000 bopd processing facility onshore. From there oil will be moved about 14 mi to the Kuparuk pipeline, through which it will enter the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. Eni, operator with 100%, expects first oil by December 2009. The field has estimated recoverable reserves of about 180 million bbl of oil.

In a related matter, Pioneer will begin producing oil later this year from Oooguruk Field, 15 mi west of Nikaitchuq Field. Oooguruk is operated by Pioneer (70%) with partner Eni holding 30%. This will be Eni’s first Alaskan oil.

NEW OUTPUT

StatoilHydro began producing from Volve Field offshore Norway, 200 km west of Stavanger in the North Sea. The Maersk Inspirer jackup will produce the oil to the Navion Saga FSO storage vessel. The Sleipner A platform will receive the field’s gas for processing and export. Recoverable reserves are estimated at 78.6 million bbl of oil and almost 53 MMcf of gas with output at 50,000 bopd by 2009. Five additional wells are planned. StatoilHydro is operator with 59.6% along with partners ExxonMobil, 30.4%, and PA Resources at 10.0%.

Imperial began flowing 35,000 bopd from Snezhnoye Field in Western Siberia, Russia, into the Transneft national pipeline system through the company’s custody transfer station at Zavyalovo. This allows the company to continue development of Blocks 74 and 77, northwest of the Ob River. Imperial’s Maiskoye-Luginetskoye pipeline (94-mi long) and the Snezhnoye-Zavyalovo pipeline (30-mi long) are now open and operating, and a third 94-mi long pipeline is under construction to connect Block 80 to the transfer station. That pipeline will begin operating in late 2008.