The first quarter of 2008 has seen a continuation of 2007
with things progressing apace in both the consultancy and software development groups.
Selected highlights are given below:
In terms of consultancy, FEESA has continued providing Flow
Assurance services to two major BP projects in Angola: Block 31SE (PAJ) and Block 31MW. Both these projects envisage the development of
multiple oilfields located in deepwater Block 31 offshore Angola.
The Block 31SE project is in the Select (or Pre-FEED)
phase of design. We used our software Maximus to perform various thermal
hydraulics studies of the integrated production systems. Working in
conjunction with the BP reservoir team, a Maximus deliverability model was
developed to forecast production rates. This model was then benchmarked
against independent predictions from a Nexus model of the system and good
agreement was shown.
In addition, a Wax Management study was performed to
investigate options for developing a lower temperature potentially waxing field.
This investigation included an analysis of electric heating using the
electrically heated pipeline option in Maximus. Also, Maximus was used to
predict the phase diagram including both regions of wax and hydrate formation. Figure
1 shows a predicted phase diagram with a typical pT path from the reservoir to
the reception facilities.
In parallel with the Maximus Flow Assurance studies, we have
also undertaken transient analysis to investigate shutdown, restart and
slugging avoidance.

Figure 1, Phase Diagram
& pT Path
The Block 31MW project is in the Appraise (or
Conceptual) phase of design. Here, we have developed a Maximus Integrated Production
Model (IPM) to investigate novel development options and the impact these might
have on deliverability and Flow Assurance. In particular, the Maximus model
was used evaluated subsea separation, subsea boosting and riser-base gas-lift.
The model was configured to predict drilling schedules for different production
system arrangements and different FPSO sizes.
Recently, FEESA has also performed a benchmarking exercise
for the Xodus Group in Perth, Western Australia. This involved the development
of a Maximus Integrated Production Model (IPM) for a gas field development
located in Australian territorial waters (see Figure 2). This model was used
to investigate the deliverability of various options, including different
pipeline sizes and routes and two potential offshore compression locations. The
investigation produced considerable insights regarding production system
configuration and well allocation.
Figure 2, Maximus IPM for
Australian Gas Field Development
On the software development front, there have been several
incremental developments to Maximus this quarter. These are listed as follows:
- Control
Choke Compressors and Pumps. These new objects offer hybridised functionality
allowing these devices to act as chokes when there is sufficient supply
pressure to meet a target rate but then switching on pressure boosting
when the pressure has declined and the target cannot be met.
- New
Plotting Options. Maximus’ Dynamic Plotter (the user-configurable plotter created
and updated at runtime) has been improved offering both stack plots (see
Figure 2) and stepping line plots.
- Microsoft
Vista.
Maximus’ has been ‘ported’ to the Microsoft Vista OS and integrity
tested. Testing has gone well and FEESA is now able to offer Maximus for Vista.
- Transmissibility
Connectors. Maximus’
connector object has been modified to allow connectors to be specified in
terms of transmissibility. This feature allows Maximus’ reservoir tank
model to be coupled to aquifers and for communication between tanks.