Subsea (technology)

Subsea is a term to refer to equipment, technology, andmethods employed in marine biology, undersea geology,offshore oil and gas developments, underwater mining,and offshore wind power industries.

1 Oil and gas

Oil and gas fields reside beneath many inland waters andoffshore areas around the world, and in the oil and gas in-dustry the term subsea relates to the exploration, drillingand development of oil and gas fields in underwater loca-tions.Under water oil field facilities are generically referred tousing a subsea prefix, such as subsea well, subsea field,subsea project, and subsea development.Subsea oil field developments are usually split into Shal-low water and Deepwater categories to distinguish be-tween the different facilities and approaches that areneeded.The term shallow water or shelf is used for very shallowwater depths where bottom-founded facilities like jackupdrilling rigs and fixed offshore structures can be used, andwhere saturation diving is feasible.Deepwater is a term often used to refer to offshoreprojects located in water depths greater than around 600feet,[1] where floating drilling vessels and floating oil plat-forms are used, and remotely operated underwater vehi-cles are required as manned diving is not practical.Subsea completions can be traced back to 1943 withthe Lake Erie completion at a 35-ft water depth. Thewell had a land-type Christmas tree that required diverintervention for installation, maintenance, and flow lineconnections.[2]

Shell completed its first subsea well in the Gulf ofMexicoin 1961[3]

The first known subsea ultra-high pressure waterjet sys-tem capable of operating below 5,000 ft was developedin 2010 by Jet Edge and Chukar Waterjet. It was usedto blast away hydrates that were clogging a containmentsystem at the Gulf oil spill site.[4]

Chukar Waterjet has since developed a deepwater subseawaterjet system capable of operating at depths of up to3000 meters (10,000 feet).Effective at cutting steel up to250 mm thick or waterjet blasting at pressures up to 3800bar, the system can be used to blast away coatings and

marine growth to inspect welds, or as a cutting tool inemergency response and salvage operations. It also canbe used for hydrate remediation.[5]

1.1 Systems

Subsea production systems can range in complexity froma single satellite well with a flowline linked to a fixed plat-form, FPSO or an onshore installation, to several wells ona template or clustered around a manifold, and transfer-ring to a fixed or floating facility, or directly to an onshoreinstallation.[6]

Subsea production systems can be used to develop reser-voirs, or parts of reservoirs, which require drilling of thewells from more than one location. Deep water condi-tions, or even ultradeep water conditions, can also inher-ently dictate development of a field by means of a subseaproduction system, since traditional surface facilities suchas on a steel-piled jacket, might be either technically un-feasible or uneconomical due to the water depth.[6]

The development of subsea oil and gas fields requiresspecialized equipment. The equipment must be reliableenough to safeguard the environment and make the ex-ploitation of the subsea hydrocarbons economically feasi-ble. The deployment of such equipment requires special-ized and expensive vessels, which need to be equippedwith diving equipment for relatively shallow equipmentwork (i.e. a few hundred feet water depth maximum) androbotic equipment for deeper water depths. Any require-ment to repair or intervene with installed subsea equip-ment is thus normally very expensive. This type of ex-pense can result in economic failure of the subsea devel-opment.Subsea technology in offshore oil and gas production is ahighly specialized field of application with particular de-mands on engineering and simulation. Most of the newoil fields are located in deep water and are generally re-ferred to as deepwater systems. Development of thesefields sets strict requirements for verification of the vari-ous systems functions and their compliance with currentrequirements and specifications. This is because of thehigh costs and time involved in changing a pre-existingsystem due to the specialized vessels with advanced on-board equipment. A full-scale test (System IntegrationTest SIT) does not provide satisfactory verification ofdeepwater systems because the test, for practical reasons,cannot be performed under conditions identical to thoseunder which the system will later operate. The oil indus-

1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_biologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offshore_drillinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwater_mininghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offshore_wind_powerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackup_bargehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackup_bargehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_platformhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturation_divinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offshore_drillinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_Production_Storage_and_Offloadinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_Production_Storage_and_Offloadinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remotely_operated_underwater_vehiclehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remotely_operated_underwater_vehiclehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Dutch_Shellhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Mexicohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsea_Production_Systemhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_platformhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_platformhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_Production_Storage_and_Offloading

2 6 SEE ALSO

try has therefore adopted modern data technology as atool for virtual testing of deepwater systems that enablesdetection of costly faults at an early phase of the project.By using modern simulation tools, models of deepwatersystems can be set up and used to verify the systems func-tions, and dynamic properties, against various require-ments specifications. This includes the model-based de-velopment of innovative high-tech plants and system so-lutions for the exploitation and production of energy re-sources in an environmentally friendly way as well as theanalysis and evaluation of the dynamic behavior of com-ponents and systems used for the production and distri-bution of oil and gas. Another part is the real-time vir-tual test of systems for subsea production, subsea drilling,supply above sea level, seismography, subsea constructionequipment, and subsea process measurement and controlequipment.

2 Offshore wind power

The power transmission infrastructure for offshore windpower utilizes a variety of subsea technologies for the in-stallation and maintenance of submarine power transmis-sion cables and other electrical energy equipment.[7] Inaddition, the monopile foundations of fixed-bottom windturbines and the anchoring and cable structures of floatingwind turbines are regularly inspected with a variety ofshipborne subsea technology.

3 Underwater mining

Recent technological advancements have given rise tothe use of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to collectmineral samples from prospective mine sites. Using drillsand other cutting tools, the ROVs obtain samples to beanalyzed for desired minerals. Once a site has been lo-cated, a mining ship or station is set up tomine the area.[8]

4 Remotely operated vehicles

Main article: Remotely operated underwater vehicle

Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) are robotic piecesof equipment operated from afar to perform tasks on thesea floor. ROVs are available in a wide variety of functioncapabilities and complexities from simple eyeball cam-era devices, to multi-appendage machines that requiremultiple operators to operate or fly the equipment.

5 Organizations

A number of professional societies and trade bodies areinvolved with the subsea industry around the world. Suchgroups include

Subsea Engineering Society

Society for Underwater Technology

Subsea Project Awards

Subsea UK

Subsea Valley The largest subsea technology busi-ness cluster.

Society of Petroleum Engineers

American Petroleum Institute (API)

American Society of Mechanical Engineers(ASME)

National Association of Corrosion Engineers(NACE).

Government agencies administer regulations in their ter-ritorial waters around the world. Examples of such gov-ernment agencies are the Minerals Management Service(MMS, US), Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD,Norway), and Health & Safety Executive (HSE, UK).The MMS administers the mineral resources in the US(using Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)) and providesmanagement of all the US subsea mineral and renewableenergy resources.

6 See also

Christmas tree (oil well)

List of offshore wind farms

Marine engineering

Ocean engineering

Offshore geotechnical engineering

Oil well

Passive heave compensation

Riserless light well intervention

Submarine pipeline

Subsea production system

Wellhead

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_transmissionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_power_cablehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_power_cablehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopile_foundationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catenary#Anchoring_of_marine_objectshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_wind_turbinehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_wind_turbinehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remotely_operated_underwater_vehiclehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineralhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mininghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remotely_operated_underwater_vehiclehttp://www.subseaeng.org/http://www.sut.org.uk/http://www.yoursubseanews.com/http://www.subseauk.com/http://www.subseavalley.com/http://www.spe.org/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Petroleum_Institutehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minerals_Management_Servicehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_Federal_Regulationshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree_(oil_well)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_offshore_wind_farmshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_engineeringhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_engineeringhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offshore_geotechnical_engineeringhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_wellhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_heave_compensationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riserless_light_well_interventionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_pipelinehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsea_production_systemhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellhead

3

7 References[1] Oil field Glossary - Deepwater Play : http:

//www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/Display.cfm?Term=deep%2Dwater%20play

[2] (2010) International Petroleum Encyclopedia. RetrievedNovember 09, 2010, from http://www.pennenergy.com/index/petroleum/international-petroleum-encyclopedia/display/114882/ipes/online-research-center/volume-1999/issue-1/encyclopedia/special-features/new-features-improve-flexibility-of-subsea-well-completions.html

[3] 60 Years in the Gulf of Mexico, E&P Supplement, HartPublishing, November 2007

[4] Jet Edge, Inc.: http://www.jetedge.com/content.cfm?fuseaction=dsp_success_case&case_ID=96

[5] Chukar Waterjet, Inc.: http://www.chukarwaterjet.com

[6] API Recommended Practice 17A

[7] Global Marine Systems on the future of offshore wind ca-bling, Wind Energy Update, 2009-09-10, accessed 2011-07-30.

[8] Treasure on the ocean floor, Economist 381, no. 8506:10,EBSCOhost, (accessed January 19, 2010).

http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/Display.cfm?Term=deep%252Dwater%2520playhttp://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/Display.cfm?Term=deep%252Dwater%2520playhttp://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/Display.cfm?Term=deep%252Dwater%2520playhttp://www.pennenergy.com/index/petroleum/international-petroleum-encyclopedia/display/114882/ipes/online-research-center/volume-1999/issue-1/encyclopedia/special-features/new-features-improve-flexibility-of-subsea-well-completions.htmlhttp://www.pennenergy.com/index/petroleum/international-petroleum-encyclopedia/display/114882/ipes/online-research-center/volume-1999/issue-1/encyclopedia/special-features/new-features-improve-flexibility-of-subsea-well-completions.htmlhttp://www.pennenergy.com/index/petroleum/international-petroleum-encyclopedia/display/114882/ipes/online-research-center/volume-1999/issue-1/encyclopedia/special-features/new-features-improve-flexibility-of-subsea-well-completions.htmlhttp://www.pennenergy.com/index/petroleum/international-petroleum-encyclopedia/display/114882/ipes/online-research-center/volume-1999/issue-1/encyclopedia/special-features/new-features-improve-flexibility-of-subsea-well-completions.htmlhttp://www.pennenergy.com/index/petroleum/international-petroleum-encyclopedia/display/114882/ipes/online-research-center/volume-1999/issue-1/encyclopedia/special-features/new-features-improve-flexibility-of-subsea-well-completions.htmlhttp://www.pennenergy.com/index/petroleum/international-petroleum-encyclopedia/display/114882/ipes/online-research-center/volume-1999/issue-1/encyclopedia/special-features/new-features-improve-flexibility-of-subsea-well-completions.htmlhttp://www.jetedge.com/content.cfm?fuseaction=dsp_success_case&case_ID=96http://www.jetedge.com/content.cfm?fuseaction=dsp_success_case&case_ID=96http://www.chukarwaterjet.com/http://social.windenergyupdate.com/qa/global-marine-systems-future-offshore-wind-cablinghttp://social.windenergyupdate.com/qa/global-marine-systems-future-offshore-wind-cablinghttp://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=23321589&site=ehost-live

4 8 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

8 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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Oil and gas Systems

Offshore wind powerUnderwater miningRemotely operated vehiclesOrganizationsSee alsoReferencesText and image sources, contributors, and licensesTextImagesContent license