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Oil and Gas Production An Introduction to Oil and Gas Production 2 nd edition
2018

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Oil and Gas Production
An Introduction to Oil and Gas Production
2nd edition 2018
First published 2014.
Author: © Ole Hansen

Publisher:
Ole Hansen
www.OH-Techconsult.dk
ISBN: 978-87-997327-1-5
Print:
Laserprint, Aarhus, Denmark
The book is printed on 90g multicopy

Mechanical, Photographic, Electronic or other

reproduction of this book or parts thereof is not permitted
according to the current Danish law on copyright.
All rights reserved.

Ole Hansen
www.OH-Techconsult.dk
Denmark 2018

Cover illustration:
FPSO Fluminence
Modec Do Brazil 2007
SHELL Bijupeera & Saleema field
The author's own archive.

Preface
Oil and Gas Production has been written at the request of the Aarhus School of Technical and Marine
Engineering in Aarhus Denmark. The aim of the book is to provide an introduction to offshore oil and gas
production to everyone with a technical interest in the subject.
The prerequisite for reading the book is general technical knowledge, but the book may be read with no
prior exposure to the industry.
The purpose of the book is to give existing and new employees in the industry and students alike a
thorough introduction to the offshore oil and gas industry, as well to exist as a reference book for engineers
and others with a technical association to the industry.
The book is written in easy-to-read language that should enable it to be used as an introduction to
employees who have to work with, or support the work with oil and gas production offshore.
The structure of the book starts with the history of the industry, followed by chapters on hydrocarbon
theory, offshore installations, and processes and platform safety. There is a natural progression through the
book, but each chapter/topic may also be read on its own. The detailed table of contents will assist in using
the book as a reference piece. Each chapter concludes with a literature list that serves as inspiration for
additional literature on the specific topic.
The book does not deal with the drilling technology where reference is made to other literature on the
subject.

Ole Hansen

www.oh-techconsult.dk
Thanks:
A thank you to everyone who has helped with the creation of this book. A special thanks is given to
Aarhus School of Marine and Technical Engineering Management for the opportunity to write this book,
and lectures at the Aarhus School of Marine and Technical Engineering for constructive criticism and
sparring.
A special thanks to leading employees of the Maersk Oil company (TOTAL) and Danish Oil and Natural Gas
(INEOS) who have helped with comments and sparring about the book's content.

About the author:

Ole Hansen

The author is assistant professor at the Aarhus School of Marine and Technical Engineering. Prior to this
position he spent 16 years in the oil and gas industry. Starting in 1995 with the Maersk tankers shipping
company, in 1996 he moved into FPSO operations offshore. From 1996-2006 he was involved with both
FPSO operations and construction of FPSOs for companies like MAERSK FPSO, SBM offshore and CNR
(Canadian Natural Resources) in countries like Singapore, the UK, and Cote de I’voire. From 2006 to 2008 he
was involved with FPSO operations for Modec in Brazil. From 2008-2011 he was responsible for production
readiness and topside platform modifications of a subsea tie-back offshore Norway.

Since 2011 he has lectured on oil and gas and marine engineering subjects including various courses run for
the industry.

Table of Contents

Preface - 3

Chapters

1. The History of the Oil Industry - 8

1.1 The History of Oil Production - 8
1.2 The History of Gas Production - 17
1.3 Hydrocarbon Resources - 19
1.5 Measuring Units of the Oil Industry - 27
2. Hydrocarbons - 31
2.1 Hydrocarbons and Their Origin - 31
2.2 Classification of Geological Structures - 34
2.3 Classification According to Drive Mechanisms - 37
2.4 Hydrocarbon Phases in the Reservoir - 43
2.5 Types of Hydrocarbon - 52

3. Offshore Production Installations - 60

3.1 Main Processes - 60
3.2 Onshore Process Plants - 63
3.3 Offshore Process Installations - 66
3.3.1 Jack-up Rig - 67
3.3.2 Fixed Leg Platform - 68
3.3.3 Gravity Base Structure - 71
3.3.4 Semisubmersible Platform - 73
3.3.5 Tension Leg Platform - 75
3.3.6 FPSO - 76
3.4 Anchoring of Installations - 80

4. Wellhead System and Pipelines - 84

4.1 Wellhead/Well Completion - 84
4.2 Christmas Tree - 89
4.3 Hydrates - 96
4.4 Valve Test - 98
4.5 Control Umbilical - 100
4.6 Pipelines - 102

5. Oil Separation and Produced Water - 112

5.1 Platform Inlet - 112
5.2 HP-separator - 114
5.3 Separation - 117
5.4 Separation Problems - 126
5.5 Separator Equipment - 130
5.6 Crude Oil Stabilization - 133
5.7 Produced Water Treatment - 141

6. Gas Treatment - 152

6.1 Gas Treatment Process - 152
6.2 Gas Composition - 154
6.3 Gas Compression - 159
6.3.1 Reciprocating Compressor - 160
6.3.2 Centrifugal Compressor - 163
6.4 Gas Dehydration - 170
6.4.1 Glycol Dehydration - 172
6.5 NGL Recovery - 177
7. The Auxiliary Systems - 183
7.1 Production Platform Auxiliary Systems - 183
7.2 Water Injection System - 186
7.3 Power Generation - 189
7.4 Heating Medium - 194
7.5 Cooling Medium - 198
7.6 Chemical Injection System - 201
7.7 Flare System - 204
7.8 Air / Nitrogen System - 208
7.9 Fresh Water System - 210

8. Platform Safety - 214

8.1 Safety Case - 214
8.2 Work Management System - 222
8.2.1 Work Permit System - 223
8.3 Fire and Gas Detection System - 230
8.4 Emergency Shutdown System - 235
8.5 Process Control System - 237
8.6 Platform Fire System - 238
8.7 Emergency Response - 243

9. Organizing the Platform - 254

9.1 Structure of the Oil Industry - 254
9.2 Structure of an Oil Company - 256
9.2.1 Senior Management Level - 256
9.2.2 Sectional Management Level - 260
9.2.3 Line Management Level - 263
9.3 Offshore Platform Organization - 266
9.4 Job Descriptions - 269
9.4.1 Offshore Installation Manager - 269
9.4.2 Production Supervisor - 270
9.4.3 Production Team Leader - 271
9.4.4 Maintenance Supervisor - 272
9.4.5 Maintenance Technician (Mechanical) - 273
9.4.6 Electrical Technician - 274
9.4.8 Control System Technician - 275
9.4.9 Instrument Technician - 275
9.4.10 Marine Operations Supervisor - 276
9.4.11 Safety Officer - 276
9.5 Platform Competencies - 277
9.6 A Typical Day Offshore - 282
9.7 Life on a Platform - 287
 Chapter 1

History of the Oil Industry

1.1 History of Oil Production

Oil has been known for millennia as a naturally occurring substance. At several places on Earth (mainly
countries around the Middle East / Mediterranean) hydrocarbons are found migrating to the surface and
have, over time, been a major concern for the inhabitants of the affected areas, as they have contaminated
the water and have made the soil barren. The hydrocarbons that have accumulated at the surface have
been heavy hydrocarbons with long chains of carbon atoms, with a consistency very similar to tar
(bitumen). Today, during periods of seismic activity (i.e. earthquake), tar can be found in the areas
surrounding the Dead Sea. Along the river Euphrates (Iraq) one may also find accumulations of tar.
Historically, there have been several accounts of hy

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