Subterranean Pipelines will allow field layouts to be more flexible as Wells can be located further from the current maximum 120m from the Manifold which is limited by the capacity of the installation Vessels. With simpler tie-ins to Subsea Trees, rigid Well Jumpers can be eliminated, removing length restrictions and handling/deployment issues in the field, creating CAPEX savings and higher reliability.
Step-out distances can be increased beyond the current 42Km record ‘un-locking’ previously unreachable ‘probable’ reserves, helping to maintain production levels at Brown-field sites. Drilling from the FPSO/Platform to the Subsea Tree/Well would allow ‘small pools’ at 20 Km and beyond to be reached in less than 6 months, reducing the 2 year schedule to procure/install a ‘Trench/Buried Pipeline’ with all the weather windows, seabed preparation, and COMOPs issues, leading to reduced project risks, and a more predictable installation cost and schedule.
Well drilling distances can be reduced as Wells can be more vertical, if desired, leading to reduced time/cost to drill a Well. The older Drilling Rig fleet can be utilized immediately without expensive upgrades as Subterranean Channels/Pipelines are not in communication with the Well formation. Subterranean Channel construction can start immediately that the field layout is confirmed, leading to fewer issues of combined vessel operations in the Field, and shorten time to first Oil or Gas as metrology can be done before the subsea hardware is installed, and not on the project critical path.