05.07.2009
Oil shrinks and gas expands when brought to the surface. The FVF converts volumes at reservoir conditions (high pressure and high temperature) to storage and sale conditions
The gathering of data on a formation to determine its potential productivity before installing casing in a well. The conventional method is the drill-stem test. The gathering of pressure data and fluid samples from a formation to determine its production potential before choosing a completion method.
The average pressure within the reservoir at any given time. Determination of this value is best made by bottomhole pressure measurements with adequate shut-in time.
The floodplain of a river below the first terrace
A process of burning coal in which the coal is inserted in a bed of particles that are suspended in the air and that react with the coal to heat the furnace more cleanly. In FBC, coal is burned at a slightly lower temperature, which helps prevent some nitrogen oxide gases from forming.
An energy transaction in which the seller seeks to set a minimum fixed price (floor) and the buyer set a maximum price (ceiling). A floor price is a level below which the price will not be allowed to go regardless of whether escalation would normally have taken it below that floor level. So normally sellers want a ‘floor price’ while buyers want a ‘ceiling price’ i.e. one that cannot be exceeded. This differs from a base price which defines what price the escalation is applied to and the actual or effective price may be above or below that base price depending on how the escalation factors move. In the past many long term natural gas contracts had a floor and a ceiling price as an accepted form of protection for both buyer and seller. Natural gas contracts in Israel with IEC were also based on this concept
Floating production systems are essentially semisubmersible drilling rigs, except that they contain petroleum production equipment, as well as drilling equipment. Ships can also be used as floating production systems. The platforms can be kept in place through large, heavy anchors, or through the dynamic positioning system used by drillships. With a floating production system, once the drilling has been completed, the wellhead is actually attached to the seafloor, instead of up on the platform. The extracted petroleum is transported via risers from this wellhead to the production facilities on the semisubmersible platform. These production systems can operate in water depths of up to 6,000 feet. Choosing the right FPS depends on the water depth, hull motions, and the type of riser system desired. The riser system and the motions of the FPS hull are key. For tensioned risers, the wellhead has to be accessible from directly below the FPS. Once below the mudline, wells can divert in different directions to access particular reservoirs, which could be several miles away. However, if the reservoir is fragmented, spread over a large area, or has tiebacks, a steel catenary riser (SCR) is used. Basically, an SCR is a pipeline that’s been picked up off the floor and hung off the FPS. The riser is the section of the pipeline from the mudline up to the FPS. To use top tensioned risers (dry trees) or SCRs, a spar or tension leg platform (TLP) is traditionally used because of their small in-place motions. A spar has a deep draft of 550 ft, and a TLP’s motions are constrained by tendons designed to withstand tensions induced by wave forces. A conventional semisubmersible is not designed to support dry tree risers. Its shallow draft of 60-80 ft creates motions too large to use top tension risers or SCRs. TLPs typically work in water depths less than 5,000 ft because of their tendon design. Therefore, from 5,000-10,000 ft, the only top tension riser choice is a spar. The one disadvantage to a spar is its delivery method. It has to be towed out to its final location on its side, up right, and placed on its moorings. The topsides then have to be lifted by modules and commissioning is done offshore, which is expensive and risky. Topsides for TLPs and semisubmersibles are lifted quayside, and the entire FPS is towed to its location and installed. Furthermore, a semisubmersible and TLP have larger deck areas than a spar. A spar is limited to its diameter, so operators end up stacking the decks. A spar could have three decks as opposed to one or two on a semisubmersible or TLP. Ideally one would like to have the functionality of a semisubmersible, but the motions of a spar.
The objective of FLEX LNG is to commercialize the world’s first floating natural gas liquefaction units and to become a leading global player within small and medium scale floating LNG production. Three units have been ordered from Samsung Heavy Industries in Korea for delivery as of 2011 onwards
In certain instances in shallower water, it is possible to physically attach a platform to the sea floor. The ‘legs’ are constructed with concrete or steel, extending down from the platform, and fixed to the seafloor with piles. With some concrete structures, the weight of the legs and seafloor platform is so great, that they do not have to be physically attached to the seafloor, but instead simply rest on their own mass. The main advantages of these types of platforms are their stability, as they are attached to the sea floor there is limited exposure to movement due to wind and water forces. However, these platforms cannot be used in extremely deep water, as it simply is not economical to build legs that long.
Utility service which assumes no interruption except if residential customers’ supply is threatened. Opposite of interruptible service.