Wellhead Compression Project Conceptual Study*

21 May

Client: Pluspetrol Peru Corporation

Field (Type): Camisea (Gas & Condensate production; Onshore Peru)
Objectives:
- The client wanted to investigate ten machinery and process system conceptual options and their sub-options for new wellhead gas compression facilities
- The client desired that the recommended optimum solution for wellhead gas compression will be selected and validated having rigorously considered various key criteria including technical, economic, environmental, ease of implementation etc.
Challenge: The key driver for study was the declining reservoir pressures of the Camisea field. The client operates fields that are remotely located in areas of significant biodiversity and presented huge logistical challenges to constructing and operating distributed wellhead compression. In addition, multiphase flow (gas and condensate) in the gas pipeline network presented additional flow assurance challenges in managing the flow regime for existing and future life of field operations.
Our Engagement*: The client’s previous attempts at conducting this study with another reputable consultant was unsuccessful. The recommendations they presented were largely impractical and insensitive to the client’s business and environmental constraints. This did not inspire confidence in the client to act on their recommendations and they instead chose to seek a second opinion. We were therefore engaged as Engineering Consultants because of our unique gas compression, field development and integrated asset modelling expertise.
Approach: Well performance modelling, Pipeline flow modelling, Flow assurance analysis, Integrated asset modelling and simulation. Turbomachinery design reviews. Economic modelling. Turbomachinery design selection and sizing. Process engineering design
Stake:
- If action was not taken to select the optimum wellhead compression concept, declining reservoir pressures from Camisea field could have led to significant loss of production/revenue.
- In addition, well fluids from the reservoir would have not had sufficient pressure to meet the entry requirements to the central processing facility.
- Finally, without a rigorous conceptual study, a substandard legacy could have been selected with the consequent long-term technical and financial penalties of such a decision.
Results:
- A comprehensive field development road map describing the optimum compression option (and its implementation) was successfully developed
- Successful production optimization of the entire Camisea field
- Successful project optimization of wellhead compression project including achieving reduced CAPEX and NPV.

* NB: Some projects may have been performed by consultant in previous roles.

Sodi serves as our Managing Director and Projects Director. He has management and technical oversight across our offices. He graduated from the University of Sussex, UK with a first class MSc in Turbomachinery. Sodi has a track record of successfully managing production optimization and field development studies for major oil and gas companies internationally. He is an expert in gas compression and integrated asset modelling with more than a decade experience. In his career, the value he has provided in these areas has led to significant decisions which have provided immense production and project benefits for several operating companies. He has previously held senior roles including Head of Projects and Management Team Leader in a reputable engineering consulting firm from which he left to start up Eta Energy Solutions. He has also in previous roles, led software development teams in developing bespoke integrated asset modelling software. Sodi is a Chartered Engineer, professionally recognized by the Engineering Council (UK) and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). He is also a professionally recognised member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (UK) and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). He speaks regularly and presents technical papers at international oil and gas conferences across the world.