Engineering Visual Presentation E09: Subsea well clean-up without drilling rigs: transient analysis methods to support philosophy definition
Mark Williams A *A
Mark Williams graduated with Honours in both a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science (Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry) from the University of Melbourne, his home city. With over 20 years of technical and management experience in energy consulting in Australia and Europe, he held the role of Global Systems Manager for over 3 years, implementing several business improvement initiatives, before moving to his current role of Commercial Manager for Australia. Mark has long been an advocate for the energy industry, through voluntary roles such as Chair of Young Engineers Australia – Victoria, Chair of the Oil and Gas Group for Engineers Australia in WA and Chair of the Engineers Without Borders UK Professional Network. |
Abstract
Engineering Visual Presentation E09
After a production well completion has been installed, the completion fluids, consisting of a mix of brine and oil-based muds, are removed from the well tubing by displacing the completion fluids with the production reservoir fluids to the drilling rig. This exercise is costly in terms of the additional drilling rig time and the facilities required to process and safely dispose of the completion and production fluids. An alternative strategy is to produce the completion fluids back to the host production facilities directly, removing the requirement for drilling rig for well clean-up. This paper discusses the available strategies for well clean-up, the potential risks associated with clean-up operations (the compatibility of completion fluid properties, hydrate formation and large volumes liquids). The process simulation modelling methods are described as well as how the modelling output is used to define the operating strategies for minimisation of hydrate formation probability, for managing liquid surges, and for predicting the timing and concentrations of the completion fluids and associated chemicals arriving at the host platform to inform the requirements for temporary operating equipment. This paper also presents several case studies covering different types of completion fluids and the analysis and methods that were applied to simulate well clean-up to support the development of the operational and commissioning philosophies.
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Keywords: brine, completion fluids, flow assurance, hydrates, liquid surge, MEG, subsea, well clean-up, wells.
Mark Williams graduated with Honours in both a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science (Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry) from the University of Melbourne, his home city. With over 20 years of technical and management experience in energy consulting in Australia and Europe, he held the role of Global Systems Manager for over 3 years, implementing several business improvement initiatives, before moving to his current role of Commercial Manager for Australia. Mark has long been an advocate for the energy industry, through voluntary roles such as Chair of Young Engineers Australia – Victoria, Chair of the Oil and Gas Group for Engineers Australia in WA and Chair of the Engineers Without Borders UK Professional Network. |
