Enabling Digitalisation in HPHT and High H2S Field Development Project
Authors: Iamtanasinchai Noppadol , Borisuth Suparit , Khukhantin Thapanic , Rinnanont Winyou , Komesvarakul Suchat 
Published: February 2023

Dealing with two combinations of high potential risks, HPHT wells and H2S hazards, is major challenge in project development. Reduction of offshore personnel and risk exposure hour becomes key aim of the project. Enable digitalization technologies becomes mainstream to promote project purpose. This paper demonstrates how digitalization is planned to implement and how it supports the HPHT and sour gas field development project.

In addition to high risks, the overall cost of investment and the availability of modern technologies were evaluated, the plant design and operational concept focuses on remote control and operation with Not Normally Manned design concept.

Digitalization will make production-effective development with the same functionality and robustness as human operations and maintenance of the facility's performance and safety. Main infrastructure including high bandwidth low latency wired/wireless network across facilities, and real-time onboard data and intelligent platform are prepared to support digitalization readiness.

Personnel risk offshore is minimized through the remote-control concept which the facility is monitored from onshore with capability to remote reset/restart, health and performance monitoring, remote decision-making and execution, and crew assistance. Robotic technology will also be considered as additional means for remote monitoring. Secondary control room located offshore linked through fiber optic cable with the same degree of control as onshore will be included to allow local operations during commissioning, start-up, early operation, troubleshooting and maintenance campaigns.

The project targets to deploy real-time digital data platform for monitoring and inspection producing large amounts of data for analysis to increase efficient operations. Digital twin application, where the real-time data, and repository of information on the equipment can be used for operations and maintenance purposes, can be further implemented, i.e., design phase for process control design and simulation, training simulator during plant start-up, and plant optimization during operational phase. The personnel and equipment tracking on real-time basis will also be considered to encourage fast and efficient evacuation in an emergency.

All systems are designed based on best practices design in Cybersecurity concepts to enable protected related networks, equipment, location and data from attack, damage, or unauthorized access.

Introducing nowadays digitalization technologies in the project, could reduce hazardous risks and number of personnel activities on the facilities as well as optimizing production operations performance. It should be started at the early stage of the project. Main challenge is lacking successfully reference and benchmarking projects. All digitalization applications and technologies should be carefully assessed and validated to ensure that they are suitable and valuable for the project requirements.