Lecture 5: Subsea Architecture

Subsea Architecture

EG50R1/2T
Subsea architecture

• Architecture: the careful design of a complex

system by unifying its components into a coherent
and functional whole
• Subsea Architecture is the layout of the equipment
to create the subsea production system
• What affects the subsea field architecture and
subsea layout?

…………many factors!

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Subsea architecture – Introduction
• Pipelines and seabed type/hardness, inclination, mobility
• Hard seabed

• Soft seabed

• Mobile seabed

• Subsea terrain in different regions:

• Norwegian North Sea

• Tropical seas

• Arctic seas

• Salinity differentials
• Other formations similar to land (mud volcanoes, gas vents)
• Hydrodynamic effects from wave and currents (stability, free spans)

*source Andrew Palmer Subsea Pipeline Engineering

(Chapter 2.2 Physical Factors affecting route selection)

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

What affects subsea architecture?

Reservoir
Facilities Drilling

Install
Shipping
methods

Subsea
Seabed Fishing
architecture

UXO Dredging

Environ
Politics
ment
Met
ocean

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

 Reservoir
Politics Drilling

Facilities Shipping

Install
Fishing
methods
Subsea
architecture

Seabed Dredging

Environ
UXO
ment
Metocea
Politics
n

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Reservoir?
• A place where fluid collects in rock
• The oil and natural gas produced from oil and gas fields
reside in porous and permeable rocks Geological features
that result from coincident occurrence of four types of
geologic features
• oil and gas source rocks
• reservoir rocks
• seals
• traps

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

The Reservoir
• The reservoir shape, size and complexity
• The reservoir characteristics
• Sand, H2S, CO2
• Wax, Asphaltenes
• Specific gravity of hydrocarbons
• Produced water
• Layered sands
• Ability to flow hydrocarbons
• Compartmentalisation/Connectivity

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

The Reservoir
• Number of wells required to exploit the reservoir
• Depletion plan (how and when certain reserves are
accessed)
• Available Technology
• Well intervention requirements
• JV or Partner Influence

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

 Reservoir
Politics Drilling

Facilities Shipping

Install
Fishing
methods
Subsea
architecture

Seabed Dredging

Environ
UXO
ment

Politics Metocean

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Environment
• Sensitive flora and fauna
• Protected species

Known Locations of Cold Water Corals

Image BBC website

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

 Reservoir
Politics Drilling

Facilities Shipping

Install
Fishing
methods
Subsea
architecture

Seabed Dredging

Environ
UXO
ment

Politics Metocean

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

The Seabed
• Can the seabed support the structures?
• What kind of foundations will be required?
• Are there any Geohazards?
• Will the seabed move?
• Is the bathymetry suitable for flow of oil or gas?

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Geophysical surveys
• Side-scan sonar for imagery and multibeam echosounders for
bathymetry, provide information on the topographic and seabed
surface texture
• Subbottom profilers provide information on the structure of the
soils and rocks beneath
• Information used for Image courtesy Kongsberg Maritime

route planning,
structure location,
flow assurance
modelling

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Geotechnical investigations
• Coring and Cone Penetration Tests (CPTs), provide
the actual samples to confirm the remotely sensed
data and information on the soil and rock types to
determine seabed-loading characteristics
• Information used in
pipeline and structure
design

Image courtesy UTEC Geomarine

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Ormen Lange Case Study

Ormen Lange Field Project

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Ormen Lange: Challenges for pipeline routing
Free Spans initial
routes – Deep Water
Area

Submerged Floating
Pipeline (early solution)

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Ormen Lange: AUV Survey and Slide route selection
Data Quality from
AUV Survey

Close up of Ormen Lange

Pipelines and Umbilicals

Pipeline routes, Storegga

Slide Edge Area

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Ormen Lange Free Span Corrections (SRI, dredging)
Free span correction (high residual
bottom tension)

Free span correction by SRI, Pre-lay and

Post-lay

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Ormen Lange Summary of Activities
Key activities
• Reduced no. height and length of free spans

• Seabed and Soil survey at different levels of detail

• Pipeline routing and comparison based on survey and

intervention estimates

• Selection of optimal pipeline installation method in

deep water (S-lay, J-lay)
Free span distribution 30” OL pipeline, status 1999
• Increased allowable free span length

• Updating VIV guidelines based on model tests,

revised SN curves for free spanning pipelines

• Increased capacity of conventional seabed

preparation

• Development of dredging tool in order to lower span

shoulders and correct profiles in steep slopes

Free span distribution 30” OL pipeline, status 2005

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

 Reservoir
Politics Drilling

Facilities Shipping

Install
Fishing
methods
Subsea
architecture

Seabed Dredging

Environ
UXO
ment

Politics Metocean

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Location and metocean conditions
Classification Conditions and impacts
HARSH Environments such as the North Sea and the North Atlantic
seaboards where there is a high frequency of sudden storms.
Conditions can limit subsea/offshore work within winter seasons.
TROPICAL SEAS Normally benign and swell-free regions but which lie within tropical
storms paths. Equipment may need to be disconnected quickly or
facilities abandoned in severe situations.
BOUNDED SEAS Enclosed seas such as the Caspian, Mediterranean and Black Sea that
are free of oceanic swells but where storms can be sudden. Bounded
seas can limit the size of component parts that can be transported,
and the vessels available for construction and maintenance.
BENIGN TROPICS Areas such as the west coast of Africa, with continental shelves open
to the ocean where storms are infrequent but which suffer from
prolonged intervals of long-period swells.
ARCTIC In general the high latitudes bounded by the limits of summer sea
ice. These areas are subject to sudden storms and provide limited
working opportunities. Subsea equipment may not be accessible for
much of the year.

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

 Reservoir
Facilities Drilling

Install
Shipping
methods

Subsea
Seabed Fishing
architecture

UXO Dredging

Environm
Politics
ent
Metocean

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Fishing
• Fishing and subsea hardware can cause a risk to the
fishing vessel and to the equipment
• Snagging of nets on a subsea structure could result in
sinking of the vessel
• In august 2005 a vessel is believed to have sank after
becoming snagged on pipeline trench boulders
• Do subsea structures attract fish and make fishing
more attractive?

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Fishing protection
• To minimise damage or hydrocarbon spill & to
reduce risk of fishing vessel damage (loss of life)
• Set structure design criteria and include loads due to trawl board
snagging or pulling if applicable
• Fishing protection, fishing friendly structures
• Trenching of pipelines
• Mattressing of seabed items

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Fishing
• Understand the types of fishing
being carried out, and the level
of fishing in the areas
• Most bottom fishing occurs in water
depths of less than 100 m. The costs
and risks associated with such fishing
tend to increase with depth.

• Understand potential
development or increases in
depth range or size of fishing
vessels
• Fishing technology has developed
greatly and in a few areas bottom
trawling has extended to 1,500–1,800
m depths. Bottom longline fishing
with baited hooks may go even deeper.

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Fishing protection - Safety zones
• Most subsea structures have a
500m safety zone, which
is measured from the centre of
it's location.
• There may be several pieces of
equipment within the safety
zone
• Protects fishing vessels from
dangerous seabed, and protects
hardware from fishing
activities
Example of subsea safety zone for several
structures. Source Fishsafe.eu

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Fish can cause damage too!
• Swordfish punctured an oil offloading hose on
Girassol in 2010, causing a 3 day delay to tanker
shipments
• In 2014 a Marlin attack delayed offloading on Greater
Plutonio
• Force Majeure declared in both cases

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

 Reservoir
Facilities Drilling

Install
Shipping
methods

Subsea
Seabed Fishing
architecture

UXO Dredging

Environ
Politics
ment
Metocean

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Shipping
• Anchor damage to pipelines
and umbilicals is relatively
common. Can occur outside
of designated anchorage areas
• Heavy shipping can also
result in dropped objects and
difficulty planning inspection
and maintenance
• Information on shipping
routes should be used to plan
subsea layout

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

 Reservoir
Facilities Drilling

Install
Shipping
methods

Subsea
Seabed Fishing
architecture

UXO Dredging

Environ
Politics
ment
Metocean

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Dredging
• Dredging can be done to
maintain the depth and
width of shipping areas,
or to excavate gravel
• Dredging areas, and spoil
dumping areas must be
avoided due to potential
for significant damage
• Important in shallow
water, near shipping
channels and ports or
around loading stations
Image: Egypt Ministry of Petroleum

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

 Reservoir
Facilities Drilling

Install
Shipping
methods

Subsea
Seabed Fishing
architecture

UXO Dredging

Environ
Politics
ment
Metocean

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Unexploded Ordnance
• The presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in waters is
extensive, as a result of worldwide conflict, military
training, and unsophisticated disposal practices.
• Much of the UXO was dumped prior to any requirement
for documentation or geolocation
• UXO assessment and survey needs to be carried out prior
to subsea field development
• AUV technologies
developed for Mine
Countermeasures can be
used to detect, classify,
and remediate subsea UXO
SOURCE: Bluefinrobotics Image Osiris projects UXO survey

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

 Reservoir
Facilities Drilling

Install
Shipping
methods

Subsea
Seabed Fishing
architecture

UXO Dredging

Environ
Politics
ment
Metocean

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Facilities
• Existing facilities will dictate location of structures
and routing of flowlines
• Flowline or cable crossings may alter the lay direction and length

• Potential future facilities must also be allowed for

• Space and routes left clear

• The actual hardware being used will influence

position of equipment
• Manifold type and connector type will dictate local layouts

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Flowline and structure options
• Single Facility

• Dual Facility

• Looped Facility

• Daisy Chain Facility

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

What affects subsea architecture?

Reservoir
Facilities Drilling

Install
Shipping
methods

Subsea
Seabed Fishing
architecture

UXO Dredging

Environ
Politics
ment
Metocean

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

Politics, Installation, Drilling
• Politics
• Many potential influences from location of onshore facilities to
selection of equipment manufacturers

• Drilling
• Drilling plan may dictate the type of manifolds. E.g. Close clustered or
templates.
• Drilling schedule may influence the installation sequence and schedule,
with resultant changes in the routing or location of equipment.

• Installation methods
• Vessels to be used can influence the size and shape of structures. May
need modular structures or mid line structures

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk

What else is important?

• The Subsea Hardware!

EG50R1/2T Offshore Structures and Subsea Systems www.abdn.ac.uk