A Sustainability Project in Supporting the Responsible Consumption Production Global via the Commissioning & Start-up (CSU) Execution of Seal Gas Conditioning Unit (SGCU) for an Enhance Oil Recovery Initiative
Authors: Iylia Mohammad Zainal Siti Anis , Samawe Rabibah Ahmad , A Talib Siti Zarina , Yusof M Pahmi , Muhd M Azmi 
Published: November 2024

This paper presents a sustainability project focused on Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) initiative via the design, utilization, and implementation of a Seal Gas Conditioning Unit (SGCU) as part of Gas Injection (GI) Turbine Compressor package. The Project Management Team (PMT) has decided to leverage on Gravity Assisted Simultaneous Water and Gas (GASWAG) technology as part of EOR initiative. The SGCU plays a critical role in maintaining GASWAG operational efficiency by addressing tripping issues arising from low seal gas differential pressure (DP). The SGCU heats the gas to prevent condensation, minimizing 32% production loss. This is essential to achieve the decarbonization effort by zero continuous venting and successful GI into the well, substantially increasing recoverable reserves of 82% from 17 to 95 million stock tank barrels (mmstb).

The project focused on upgrading and modifying existing platforms to install new equipment, such as Water Injection (WI) Booster Pumps, upgraded GI Compressor, Launchers and Receivers for new WI and GI pipelines. In supporting EOR, PMT faced difficulty in maintaining GI compressor reliability. Identifying skid location and tie-in points at existing facilities during site verification is crucial for ensuring safe and seamless offshore execution during installation. Conducting minor engineering to achieve the desired gas temperature and collaborating with stakeholders via Smooth Start-Up Program (SSP) and Implementation of Project on Paper (IPOP) assessments are essential for project's smooth execution. This ensures the new equipment is integrated effectively into the existing infrastructure, minimizing disruption, and optimizing operational efficiency as well as implementing effective measures via installation of SGCU.

This paper specifically explores the installation, Commissioning & Start-Up (CSU) execution of SGCU, by facilitating the achievement of production goal. Details studies have highlighted the necessity of SGCU in supporting CSU execution of GI Compressor. By increasing the seal gas temperature above its dew point, SGCU ensures continuous operation of the compressors, thereby avoiding production loss by a significant 32%. This comprehensive approach, encompassing equipment upgrades, site verification, minor engineering, and stakeholder collaboration, is imperative to the project's objectives of enhancing production, minimizing interruption, and ensuring safe offshore execution. In conclusion, installation and CSU of the SGCU has been successfully reviewed and verified to support the sustainability goal, ensuring reliability of GI Compressor for EOR. Ultimately, it also leads in supporting decarbonization effort to zero continuous venting and successful GI into the well in supporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction initiatives, contributing positively to environmental sustainability efforts.