Polyvalent Riser Balcony for Early FPSO Design Sequencing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The traditional design of riser balconies for FPSOs requires the definition of the reservoir drainage plan and subsea layout before the sequencing of well functions can be determined, leading to significant delays in the design and start of production in offshore fields.
Innovation Solution
The design of a polyvalent riser balcony that allows for the sequencing of well functions (injector, producer, WAG) in advance, independent of the reservoir drainage plan and subsea layout, enabling the anticipation of FPSO design, construction, and assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the traditional design sequence is followed (defining drainage plan and subsea layout before well function sequencing), then the design can be completed with proper technical accuracy, but the design and construction time is significantly delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the riser balcony structure and well function sequencing before the drainage plan and subsea layout are finalized. The riser balcony is designed with standardized cells that can accommodate different well configurations, allowing the FPSO design to be completed months or years before the actual field discovery and drainage planning stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The riser balcony is designed as a universal, multi-functional structure that can accommodate various well functions (producer, injector, WAG) and configurations. The standardized cell design allows the same balcony structure to serve multiple purposes across different fields and drainage plans, eliminating the need for custom designs for each scenario.
2Productivity
If the riser balcony is designed independently of the subsea layout, then the FPSO design can be anticipated and constructed earlier, but the complexity of coordinating different design elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The riser balcony is segmented into standardized cells, each capable of accommodating specific well functions. This segmentation allows the balcony to be designed as a modular unit that can be independently specified and then configured to match different subsea layouts and drainage plans, reducing coordination complexity through standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
The design approach uses parameter changes by allowing the riser balcony to be specified with certain parameters (number of cells, well functions) that can be adjusted to match different subsea layouts. The standardized design parameters enable the same basic structure to adapt to various field conditions without requiring redesign.
3Loss of time
If well function sequencing is defined early without the drainage plan, then construction can start sooner, but the flexibility to optimize for specific field conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The riser balcony design incorporates dynamics by creating a structure that can be configured to match different well functions and drainage plans. The standardized cells can be assigned different functions (producer, injector, WAG) based on the specific field conditions, allowing the design to adapt dynamically to different scenarios while maintaining early construction capability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention addresses to the design of a Polyvalent Riser Balcony for an FPSO-type floating unit and the sequencing of the functions of the wells interconnected to the SPU in advance, even before the discovery of the field; consequently, without having the definition of the reservoir drainage plan and the subsea layout. The Polyvalent Riser Balcony can be applied to any development design for new offshore fields. The application of the invention will allow the anticipation of the FPSO production design, as well as its construction and assembly, with great value generation for the production development plans.