How It Works

Overview

Diagram of how it works.

The process equipment on the UPB System is designed to produce stabilised crude suitable for tanker export.

The base, solids and water (BS&W) specification for the produced crude is set at 0.5% (typical for tanker export). Gas is removed for fuel, and sand is cleaned and disposed to sea. The crude is then stabilised and seperated from water in the heated concrete storage tank.

The UPB System method for fluid seperation is thermal stabilisation at near atmospheric conditions. Associated gas is sepreated and routed to the fuel gas system where it is used to generate the electrical power requirements of the buoy.

Sands

Any sand or particulates entrained in the production fluids are collected in the base of the degasser/de-sander vessel. At a pre-set level of sand in the base of the vessel the sand is fluidised by a Tore device and transferred as a dirt slurry to the sand cleaning package, where it is cleanded for disposal and dumping overboard. Emissions monitoring is provided to ensure levels of oil are typically less than 0.2% w/w.

Sand units will be located at the bottom of the degasser/desander, together with a sand cleaning system

Water

Seperated water will be either continuously or periodically pumped back up to the main production buoy for final polishing before disposal directly to sea. The long residence time combined with the ability to heat the crude that ensures seperation of oil and water occurs. The polishing unit coalesces and seperates the oil droplets which are then routed back to the main seperation/storage cell.

Offloading

When an offload parcel is ready an offload tanker will connect to the UPB unit via an offloading hose from the surface pick up buoy and offload the oil by displacement with seawater or offloading pump. During the offloading, the tank is maintained at positive pressure via production fluids.

Gas/Fuel System

The UPB System is designed to operate where there is no economic route for gas export. For this reason all produced gass will be used for the production of power or heating.

Heating System

The UPB System also has the ability to stabilise crude and to reduce viscosity of heavy oils to allow for mobility.

Duel-fuel fired thermal fluid heaters can be used to heat the concrete storage tank fluids.