DNV GL STRATEGIC RESEARCH & INNOVATION POSITION PAPER — ALL SUBSEA — CREATING VALUE FROM SUBSEA PROCESSES

Subsea is an essential part of most contemporary common floating development concepts and tie-ins to fixed installations. While the industry is seeking standardization and simplification of subsea installations, inspired by concepts like the Statoil Subsea Factory, questions remain over the viability as well as ultimate potential of an all-subsea solution.

In this research paper we explore these questions, highlighting opportunities and current limitations as we evaluate a hypothetical all-subsea solution: SuPPS - Subsea Production with Pipeline to Shore. The primary objective of this position paper is to check the viability of an all-subsea field development solution. We consider those circumstances in which all-subsea solutions may become preferred field development concepts in the future as compared with existing alternatives, mainly FPSO. Subsea installations are inherently complex, and as this paper demonstrates, a hypothetical all-subsea solution has a plethora of interrelated and interdependent systems.

Unfortunately, the technical complexity can over-complicate discussions regarding the potential business viability of an all-subsea concept. In order to add clarity to the discussion, we "unpack" the SuPPS into a number of discrete steps, and assess the business case for each individual step as, one-by-one, we intend to move the most important components of our 'benchmark' from topside to subsea. Based on this approach, we may conclude that while soem of the technologies are enhancing (i.e., offering superior performance and value compared with other technologies) or enabling (i.e., opening up new opportunities for profitable production), other parts of the concept seriously limit its overall applicability.