Satellite Separation Platform (SSP)

The "SSP" is a multi-purpose floating facility/ vessel with principal application as a satellite separation facility providing improved flow assurance and individual well control to subsea trees in water depths out to 10,000 feet. The "SSP" also has application capabilities in water depths as shallow as 150 feet in the "Mini SSP" mode. In its different variations, the "SSP" can be used as a mobile early production facility, a minimal production facility, an offshore pipeline pump station, a control/services buoy, a remote flare buoy and as a floating power generation vessel. As compared to other designs, the "SSP" would speed up early production from field developments through an estimated cost saving of 40-50% as the result of decreased weight, reduced fabrication cost and a shortened fabrication time.

Utilizing a retractable center column, that is fully deployed once on site, OPE developed the vessel design so that it can be easily fabricated in virtually any fabrication facility in the world with an access depth of 30-40 feet. All process and operational equipment is installed at dockside and fully tested prior to deployment to the installation site thus eliminating the need for costly "Offshore hookup" expense.

The design of the SSP enables it to be fabricated in virtually any construction port in the world, fully equipped and tested with all necessary equipment and facilities prior to offshore deployment.

After fabrication and installation of equipment, the SSP can be towed to the installation site and anchored in place. The subsea wells can then be connected via steel catenary or flexible risers to the SSP and the wells produced with the separation process accomplished at the surface. Produced oil and gas can then be shipped directly to sales gas and oil lines or storage facilities.

Since the SSP is a fully contained vessel/platform, it can easily be re-deployed to another field location with minimal preparation. This capability greatly lends itself to the use of the SSP as an early production platform, or in minimal field applications. In either case, potential flow assurance concerns are minimized due to the ability to position the SSP in close proximity to the subsea wells and minimize flowline lengths. The close relationship of the SSP to the subsea wells enables the potential use of simplified well controls and flowline pigging capabilities, improved arrival temperatures for well production, and increased recoverable reserves.

The OPE Satellite Separation Platform is a floating platform that has been designed to provide production processing and separation of subsea wells. It is designed as an offshore vessel that maintains a constant draft while moored offshore.

A center column that can be raised or lowered is a key to the stable motion characteristics of the SSP. This column is retracted during tow to location and is lowered once on site. In addition to providing motion stability this column also houses some of the production process equipment.

Equipment
The SSP can be either manned or unmanned and equipped with process and separation facilities that include:

Liquid separation

Liquid process equipment

Gas compression

Water treatment

Power generation

Test manifolds

Pigging launchers/receivers

Flare equipment

Communications equipment

Accommodations

Heliport

Crane

OPE Inc., 9432 Old Katy Road, Suite 450, Houston, TX 77055. Tel: 713-461-0044; Fax: 713-465-4673.