Offshore Vessel Replacement for Reservoir Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The development of offshore oil and gas fields is hindered by the inability to directly observe reservoirs, leading to incomplete and inaccurate data, which increases investment risks and costs, especially in deepwater regions where seismic technologies are less reliable due to extreme depths and salt canopies.
Innovation Solution
Deploying a lead drilling and production vessel to drill and complete wells, followed by a secondary production vessel based on evaluated production, using modular and standardized components that can be adjusted and replaced as needed to accommodate changing field conditions, allowing for flexible and economical development.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional seismic technologies are used for exploration in deepwater regions, then data acquisition can be performed, but the reliability of the data is reduced due to extreme depths and salt canopies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using a small initial production system as a mediator to test reservoir conditions before committing to full-scale development. This intermediary step allows validation of seismic data and reservoir models through actual production testing, thereby improving data reliability without requiring more complex seismic technologies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by establishing a iterative process where initial production data is used to validate reservoir models and update development plans. The feedback loop allows continuous improvement of understanding reservoir conditions based on actual production performance, compensating for the unreliability of conventional seismic data in deepwater environments.
2Loss of information
If more exploration wells are drilled to compensate for seismic deficiencies, then reservoir information can be improved, but the costs and complexity of drilling increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by drilling only a limited number of initial production wells rather than multiple exploration wells. This partial approach provides sufficient reservoir information through strategic placement of a few wells that can validate seismic data and models, avoiding the excessive cost and complexity of drilling many more wells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by conducting geological exploration and seismic surveying before drilling the initial production wells. This preliminary data gathering, while imperfect in deepwater environments, provides enough information to design the initial production system and plan subsequent development, reducing the need for multiple exploration wells.
3Productivity
If equipment is designed and built for specific predicted conditions, then optimal efficiency can be achieved under those conditions, but any change to conditions causes the equipment to operate at less than optimal efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by designing the initial production system with flexibility and adaptability from the outset. The system is configured to accommodate variations in reservoir conditions and can be modified based on actual production performance, allowing the equipment to maintain optimal efficiency even when conditions differ from predictions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by allowing modification of operational parameters and system configurations based on actual reservoir conditions. The system can adjust production rates, well completion methods, and equipment operations to match real-time reservoir behavior, maintaining efficiency despite condition variations.
4Reliability
If significant up-front data gathering and engineering are performed, then investment risks can be assessed, but the upfront costs are substantial and must be committed before production begins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary action by performing geological exploration and seismic surveying before drilling, although these preliminary actions are recognized as imperfect in deepwater environments. This preliminary data gathering, while not perfectly accurate, provides sufficient information to design the initial production system and assess investment risks without requiring perfect data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using initial production data to validate investment assumptions and reservoir models. This feedback mechanism allows investors to assess the accuracy of preliminary risk assessments against actual production performance, enabling more accurate future investment decisions while reducing the need for excessively large upfront commitments.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for developing an offshore field comprising deploying a lead drilling and production vessel to a offshore field to drill and complete at least one well. Production from the at least one well is initiated and evaluated. A secondary production vessel is selected based upon the evaluated production and is deployed to the offshore field to replace the lead drilling and production vessel and support production of the at least one well.