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Technology
Assessment & Research (TA&R) Program
| Project Number |
443 |
| Date of Summary |
December 18, 2006 |
| Subject |
Technology Assessment of Alternatives for Handling Associated
Gas Produced from Deepwater Oil Developments in the GOM |
| Performing Activity |
OTRC, Texas A&M |
| Principal Investigator |
E.G. Ward |
| Contracting Agency |
Minerals Management Service |
| Estimated Completion |
Completed |
| Description |
Offshore Technology Research Center, with assistance from
the Offshore Operators Committee, conducted this project for the Minerals
Management Service. The goal of the project was to complete a technical
assessment of options for handling associated gas for deepwater oil
developments in the Gulf of Mexico. The MMS plans to use the results to
review the readiness and safety of gas handling options proposed for
deepwater development projects. Results would also be useful for studies
pertaining to deepwater oil and gas development in the Gulf of Mexico. The project assumes a deepwater oil
development from an FPSO in depths to 10,000 ft. and considers different
options for handling associated gas produced at various rates Gas handling
technology options that will be considered, include export via pipeline,
processes such as LNG, CNG, GTL. The project will also look at the exporting
of gas via shuttle tanker, injection
and deferred production, generation of electricity for transmission to
shore, and possible conversions to other forms of energy or products for use
offshore or transport to shore. The technical assessment will address
technical and regulatory readiness, HSE risks and mitigation measures,
costs, (CAPEX, OPEX) and process efficiency.
Assessments to handle the production and/or
transportation of gas from deepwater developments will be completed through
a series of workshops involving industry experts on how to handle and come
up with ideas on alternatives to this problem. |
| Progress |
OTRC held 4 workshops. The workshops covered
pipelines, LNG and CNG and GTL.
Preliminary assessment results have been
completed for the four alternatives studied to date – Pipelines, LNG, CNG,
and GTL. Early assessment indicates that most of the Process Steps for these
four alternatives are “project ready”, or have challenges that can be
resolved during the execution of a 3-year project. The readiness estimate
for the LNG FPSO suggests that 1 to 3 years could be needed to plan and
design an LNG facility on an FPSO operating in the Gulf of Mexico. The
readiness estimate for LNG Transport indicates that 3 to 7 years may be
needed to complete Jones Act LNG carriers. Similarly, the readiness estimate
for CNG Transport indicates that 1 to 3 years may be required to secure
Jones Act CNG carriers. The readiness estimate for the GTL Convert to
Transport State suggests that 3 to 7 tears may be needed to develop and
“marinize” a GTL process to place on an FPSO operating in the Gulf of
Mexico. The category “Others” indicates readiness in 1 to 3 years to suggest
the time that might be needed to pursue any items such as Environment
Assessments or work on codes and standards that might be required.
Other results indicate that:
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All these gas handling alternatives can
achieve acceptable levels of HSE risks.
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Service costs for a pipeline are lowest,
followed by CNG, LNG and GTL respectively.
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The efficiencies of these processes seem
acceptable. |
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| Report |
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AA
(87 pages) |
"Gas Handling Options for Associated
Gas in Deepwater Developments in the Gulf of Mexico."
87 pp. March 25, 2003. |
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AB
(75 pages) |
“Technology Assessment of Alternatives for Handling
Associated Gas Produced from Deepwater Oil Developments in the GOM”, E.G.
Ward, OTRC; A.J. Wolford, Risknology, Inc; M.B. and L. Tapia, AMEC Paragon.
December, 2006. |
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