Offshore Technology Research Center, with assistance from the Offshore Operators Committee, conducted this project for the Minerals Management Service. The goal of the project was to complete a technical assessment of options for handling associated gas for deepwater oil developments in the Gulf of Mexico. The MMS plans to use the results to review the readiness and safety of gas handling options proposed for deepwater development projects. Results would also be useful for studies pertaining to deepwater oil and gas development in the Gulf of Mexico.
The project assumes a deepwater oil development from an FPSO in depths to 10,000 ft. and considers different options for handling associated gas produced at various rates Gas handling technology options that will be considered, include export via pipeline, processes such as LNG, CNG, GTL. The project will also look at the exporting of gas via shuttle tanker, injection and deferred production, generation of electricity for transmission to shore, and possible conversions to other forms of energy or products for use offshore or transport to shore. The technical assessment will address technical and regulatory readiness, HSE risks and mitigation measures, costs, (CAPEX, OPEX) and process efficiency.
Assessments to handle the production and/or transportation of gas from deepwater developments will be completed through a series of workshops involving industry experts on how to handle and come up with ideas on alternatives to this problem.
The efficiencies of these processes seem acceptable.