A Vessel Created for Innovations
Authors: Fukai Alberto , Alberto Carlos , Oliveira F. , Machado Fernando Bortoli , Dadalto Marcos Antônio , Santos Roseane Barcelos 
Published: October 2008

Considering the challenges associated to the first development of a 17° API oil field in deep waters, Petrobras has defined a strategy for the Jubarte Field Development Plan in 3 steps, in order to gather information throughout each step with the view to reduce risks for the following ones. The first step, called Production Pilot, produced a rate of 20.000 bbl/d from one well to FPSO Seillean, from December 2002 to January 2006.

The second one, called Phase I, will produce four wells to FPSO P-34, which has been adapted to be installed at 1000 - 1500 m water depth and to process 60.000 bbl/d of 17° API oil. The production is planned to start by the end of 2006. Phase II will be the final development project, including 15 production wells, 7 (previously estimated) injection wells and FPSO P-57, which was designed to handle 300.000 bbl/d of liquids and to process 180.000 bbl/d of oil. The production of Phase II is planned to start in the second semester of 2010. The main information Petrobras wants from Phase I is the aquifer strength, artificial lifting and heavy oil offshore processing facilities.

FPSO P-34 has a long history as a pilot for many new offshore developments for E&P, so it was chosen to attend the Jubarte field in Phase I.

The strategy was to adapt P-34, maximizing the use of the existing systems. The long lead items were purchased during the bidding phase of the main adaptation contract, through PETROBRAS engineering and procurement departments. This strategy aimed to reduce overall schedule, despite the creation of more interfaces to be managed.

To test new technologies, an offshore full scale lab was foreseen to be operating for the next generation of Process Plant technology. Application of high-power and high-rate ESP artificial lift devices, installed on the sea bed, and inside the well, in-line electrostatic coalescer and specially designed vessels internals are just few of the new concepts applied. This paper describes the main modifications and adaptations made in P-34 in order for it to be prepared to face the new challenge it was designated to deal with.

The process plant solution is presented considering free water knockout separator, oil stabilization on the oil dehydrator, the FPSO arrangement and main utilized facilities. The technological solution for assuring the oil quality is discussed. This paper describes in details the technology gaps identified and the solutions on the works for making this heavy oil production system, in deep to ultra-deep water, a successful business.

Introduction

The development plan for the exploitation of the Jubarte Oil Field, discovered in January 2001 and located approximately 80 km off the Espirito Santo State coast, southeastern Brazil, will be made in 3 production steps: Pilot Phase, Phase I and Phase II (see Figure 1) under water depths between 1,000 and 1,500 m.

This paper will focus on new concepts for process and oil production facilities installed on FPSO P-34 as well as the condition to gather new technologies during operational lifetime. Figure 1 - Jubarte Oil Field location map. (available in full paper)