UMC designed to stretch technology

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Offshore; (United States)

OSTI ID:5667057

Steven, R R

Shell/Esso's decision to install its advanced Underwater Manifold Center (UMC) in the Central Cormorant field in the UK sector of the North Sea will prove a whole range of component subsea technologies. The basic functions of UMC are: the drilling of wells through the base structure and tie-in satellites; the collection of fluids from production wells for delivery to the South Cormorant platform 4.5 miles away; the distribution of treated seawater from the platform to selected injection wells and the maintenance of valves and controls without the use of divers. The basis for the design was a nine-well manifold with each well bay able to be used either for template or satellite wells which could be either producers or water injectors. On Central Cormorant all the well completions will have two 3-in.-ID tubing strings, each with a tubing retrievable subsurface safety valve. The production manifold on the UMC is situated along each side of the maintenance vehicle track, which runs down the center of the base structure. It has an 8-in. oil header for collecting oil production, an 8-in. water injection header and two 3-in. headers for well testing and TFL access. In all there are 110 valves and diverters. An insulated pipe-within-a pipe was developed for flowlines. The control system was a multiplexed electro-hydraulic set up. Verification tests have been run. (DP)

• OSTI ID: 5667057
• Journal Information: Offshore; (United States), Vol. 42:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
42 ENGINEERING
NORTH SEA
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
OIL WELLS
OFFSHORE DRILLING
UNDERWATER OPERATIONS
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
MAINTENANCE
PETROLEUM
VALVES
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
423000 - Engineering- Marine Engineering- (1980-)