DNV GL has launched a research paper exploring the viability of moving offshore oil and gas processing subsea, including the techno-economics of an "all subsea" solution. The report addresses current limitations, but also highlights opportunities for subsea technology.
To lend clarity to the topic, the paper compares a benchmark FPSO set-up with a hypothetical all-subsea field development solution. However, instead of making a direct comparison between the two alternatives, the paper adopts a stepwise approach, moving the various main parts of the processing from the topside to the seabed in nine steps until nothing remains on the surface.
Enabling and Enhancing
For each step, the report includes a business case assessment of whether: The step is enabling (that is, opens up new opportunities for the industry that other technological solutions cannot achieve); and/or is enhancing (that is, that that aspect of subsea processing offers superior efficiency relative to any other technical solution)
Principal researcher and lead author of the paper, Tore Kuhnle, said: 'The industry has moved from "breaking boundaries" to "cost cutting" in recent years. In that respect, it is reassuring to see that subsea processing is both enabling and enhancing technology for brownfield applications. Even though brownfields will continue to drive subsea processing development, we have also identified possibilities for greenfield applications. We see that the technology has matured considerably for limited-depth and limited-range applications. With our short-term focus, we see the completely submerged alternative more as a mature-area, midsize oilfield solution, rather than an extreme deepwater, long-range problem-solver. I’d say these are good findings for the industry to consider as we need efficient production replacement projects in the current market, and both these alternatives fit very nicely.'
