The operator faced production constraints due to the lack of surface facility capacity and struggled to send production to current facilities, which could not handle the expected additional production from new well pads. Since early 2019, the existing facility began to present a bottleneck in the transfer process because of the sharp production increase during recent years, forcing the transfer pumps to work close to maximum capacity. Redistribution of the high load of produced fluid was required to solve the bottleneck and eliminate delays in drilling and production schedules. An urgent solution was needed to avoid a forced production shutdown from wells causing the bottleneck.
A Production ExPRESS solutions package was designed and validated using engineering studies, process simulations, and customized equipment for reliable operation. It was mobilized and commissioned inside the facility, ready for operation within only days to meet the urgent objective of generating early cash flow while the new, dedicated facility was under construction. The package included a degassing installation to separate and divert the gas while the oil was metered and then sent to production using Reda HPS™ horizontal multistage surface pumping systems.
The debottlenecking package efficiently handled excess production and enabled new wells to flow, avoiding process overload and increasing production capacity to an additional 10,500 bbl/d for 8 months. This solution produced oil ready for export and enabled early cash flow while the new, dedicated facility was under construction. The well test data supported the operator in designing the new facility as a pilot to receive the increased production. This demonstrates how fit-for-purpose Production ExPRESS solutions using existing SLB technologies and expertise ensure production enhancement.
