Vår Energi is planning to reuse the Jotun A FPSO for its “Balder X Future” project to develop additional hydrocarbon resources in the Balder development area of the Norwegian North Sea.
The Challenge
Vår Energi is planning to reuse the Jotun A FPSO for its “Balder X Future” project to develop additional hydrocarbon resources in the Balder development area of the Norwegian North Sea. The FPSO will be relocated and a complete new subsea production system will be installed. The subsea production system will comprise five new integrated template manifolds with production, gas lift, and controls tiebacks to the FPSO, as well as new tieback connections to the existing Ringhorne platform.
Our Approach
Vår Energi engaged Intecsea to identify, assess, and document the options for subsea production system architecture. A robust development concept had to be established taking into account the constraints imposed by existing facilities, the operating experience gained over the past 20 years, and the potential for future expansion. The concept selection process had to be completed within a tight schedule such that the tendering process for main contracts could be started within three months of the start of work.
Intecsea applied a systematic approach to identify viable concepts, first on a system-by-system basis (e.g., production system, gas lift system) and then on an overall subsea production system basis. Initial flow assurance and global riser system analyses, as well as an operability assessment and a screening level cost estimation were performed to compare the options. Workshops were held with the project stakeholders to present the concepts and obtain feedback and input. A lead concept was selected in consultation with Vår Energi, and this was further engineered to a level of definition suitable for market consultation. Intecsea has continued to support the client during the tendering process.
Results
Intecsea successfully completed the required concept selection and definition scope of work within the tight, three-month schedule required by the client. Specifically, Intecsea performed:
- Concept identification, evaluation, and selection for complex subsea production system
- Subsea production system layout and architecture design
- Flow assurance assessment of production, gas lift, water injection, and chemical injection systems
- Flexible riser system analysis
- Development of technical tendering package for EPCI scope
- Cost estimation