SBMS-500: Cooperation on a Subsea Multiphase Flow Pumping System
Authors: Caetano E.F. , Silva R.M. , Kuchpil C. , Candido S.F. , Kujawski J.M. , Livingston J.E. , Farruggia D.R. , Pollick R.D. , Campen C.H. C.H. , Maurischat R. 
Published: October 2008

Since 1995, PETROBRAS (Brazil) and WESTINGHOUSE (USA) have been working on a development effort which has resulted in a Technological Cooperation Agreement between the companies, and more importantly, the development of a conceptual design of a subsea multiphase flow pumping system, SBMS-500 (500 m3/h total flow rate, up to 60 bar of pressure increase, up to 95% GVF-gas void fraction at the suction, and approximately 1.2 MW on the shaft, electrically driven) adequate to be deployed in deep waters - guidelineless deployment conception. The conceptual design has been thoroughly analyzed and considered technically viable. PETROBRAS and WESTINGHOUSE intend to initiate design and fabrication in the first quarter of 1997. It is planned that the system, in the second quarter of 1998, shall undergo tests at the PETROBRAS Atalaia Multiphase Test Site - (an onshore test site, in the Atalaia, city of Aracaju) that allows performing highly representative tests when compared with actual production installations. For subsea tests scheduled to commence the last quarter of 1998, the 7-MRL-07-RJS well and P-20 Stationary Production Unit (SPU) platform (both in the Marlim field) have been selected to host the SBMS-500, which will be installed in waters 660 m deep. This paper focuses on the overall technological cooperation being established for the system development, its technical description and associated development phases, testing campaigns and timetables. Information associated to the host pair selection and expected production impacts on it are also provided.

Introduction

At present in Brazil, the reserves accumulated in fields located in waters of 400 to 1,000 meters (classified as deep) and those in depths over 1.000 meters (classified as ultra-deep) account for approximately 64% of Brazil's reserves. In addition, the Company exploratory play-analysis indicates that over 65% of the potential oil discoveries (prospective discoveries) will happen in deep and ultra-deep waters. These facts and figure values demonstrate how important the deep and ultra-deep waters scenario is to Brazil.

In 1986, in the search for the technological capability necessary to exploit the deep water fields already discovered, PETROBRAS established a technological strategic program called PROCAP (PETROBRAS' Technological Development Program on Deep Water Production Systems). This six-year, US $ 70 million program - which ended in 1991 - combining technological actions involving PETROBRAS, other petroleum companies, service companies, R&D institutions and universities, in the country and abroad, has allowed, under the Company demanded time and cost frame, full technological capability to exploit oil fields at water depths (WD) up to 1,000 meters. This program success was crowned with Marlim-4 well completion at 1,027 m WD in early 1994.

In 1992, having many discovered fields stretching beyond the 1,000 m, even crossing the 2,000 m water depth boundary, and considering the excellent results obtained with the PROCAP, PETROBRAS decided to create a new program named PROCAP-2000' (Technological Innovation Program on Deep Water Exploitation Systems).