DeepString: Robotic Remote Deepwater Oil and Gas Production

摘要

New technology to address the fundamental challenge of accessing remote Arctic (i.e. overhead hazard) deepwater reserves, with no requirement for near-source separation, no requirement for production platforms (i.e. fixed or floating ‘islands’), no requirement for ultra-long pipelines over complex submarine topography (hence also no power-boosters), and no requirement for the release of burnt gases damaging to the environment. May be likened to a string of sausages – each a storage unit – comprising a multitude of casings all so linked that a long vertically-aligned string is formed where gas separated from oil up exits all units down. System as a whole at its lowermost, stabs, lubricates and locks into a permanent subsea station serving also as a multi-subsea well hub. Station has separate inlets and outlets. Outlet gas fills another set, or is reinjected, creating a complete hydrodynamic reservoir communication cycle. Filled strings are replaced with towing to and from market. Elegant, flexible, replaceable (‘one-size-fits-all’), and immediately repairable; the compartmentalisation of the interlinked units and enhanced turning-circle providing additional environmental transit security against technogenic catastrophe. Could theoretically be installed even prior to drilling for blowout fluids containment. Eliminates fundamentally therefore also the limitations of the profitability criteria applicable to wells within the platform context.