Deep Offshore - Brochure

DEEP OFFSHOREA TECHNOLOGICAL AND HUMAN ADVENTURESTRATEGIC SECTORSDesign and conception: Dixxit | Photo credits: Th. Cron, M. Dufour, Th. Gonzalez, L. Lemaire, P. Livermore, P. Marie, L. Pascal, O. Robinet, M. Roussel, D.R., Total | Infographic: FMC Technologies, Techniques Effects, J.-P. Donnot, Dixxit | Mapping: IDÉ | © TOTAL August 2014. Certi?ed paperSee you onwww.total.comTOTAL S.A.Capital stock: 5 945 861 837,50 euros542 051 180 RCS NanterreExploration & Production – ParisTel.: +33 (0)1 47 44 45 462, place Jean Millier – La Défense 692078 Paris La Défense Cedex – FranceExploration & Production – PauTel.: +33 (0)5 59 83 40 00Avenue Larribau – 64018 Pau Cedex – France32In the face of the world’s growing demand for hydrocarbons, the oil and gas industry set out to conquer the deep offshore, an extraordinary industrial adventure in a context that until recently had remained beyond its grasp.T he deep offshore is believed to harbor more than 5% of the world’s oil and gas re-sources, equivalent to 300 billion boe. In some regions of the globe (West Africa, North America and South America), deepwater reservoirs account for more than 75% of the productible vo-lumes discovered in recent years.First undertaken in the 1980s, deepwater explo-ration began to pay off in the early years of this century. Since that time, the production of oil from deep offshore reservoirs has increased steadily. By 2035, it is projected to reach 9 million barrels per day (Mb/d), equivalent to 11% of global oil output.OVERCOMING NUMEROUS CHALLENGESThe main challenges to deepwater production relate to the extreme conditions of the abyssal environment:• cold: the ambient temperature is around 4° C• pressure: increases by 1 bar for every 10 m of depth, meaning 150 bar at a water depth of 1,500 meters – a force equivalent to 6 tons exer-ted on a surface area the size of a credit card.In this context, crude oil would congeal immedia-tely in an “ordinary” pipeline. Solutions had to be found to prevent the oil from cooling and ensure LWV? ÀXLGLW\\? RYHU? WKH? WKRXVDQGV? RI?PHWHUV? LW?PXVW?travel to reach the surface.Through its twenty years of experience, Total has successfully developed game-changing tech-nologies tailored to these conditions. While the focus today has shifted to optimizing project eco-nomics, raising recovery factors and preparing for the aging of its facilities, the Group’s expertise is also driving it to invest in new deposits even PRUH?GLI¿FXOW? WR?DFFHVV?RU?FRQWDLQLQJ?SDUWLFXODUO\\?complex oils. LIMITING THE ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT: A PRIORITYEnvironmental performance is a priorty over the entire life cycle of every deep-water project. Regular monitoring and audits are carried out to guarantee strict compliance with the most strin-gent standards for produced water discharge.Efforts to curb greenhouse gas emisions are served by optimizing the energy efficiency of )362V? DQG? UHFRYHULQJ? RL¿HOG? DVVRFLDWHG? JDV?(for liquefaction or reinjection) Preventing hydrate formationA hydrate is a crystal solid with a structure similar to ice. Hydrocarbons form hydrates with water in conditions of low temperature and high pressure – precisely the environment encountered in the ocean deeps. Hydrate blocks are liable to plug production lines and therefore constitute a major risk. For this reason, preventing hydrate formation has been one of the major thrusts of deepwater research.FOCUS Dalia ?eld development scheme, Block 17, AngolaMILESTONESThe unsuspected diversity of deepwater eco-systemsBefore the oil industry began to focus on the deep offshore, little was known about life in the abyss. Total teamed up with experts on marine life to carry out an inventory of these unique ecosystems, which have proved to consist of much more abundant and varied species than anyone had ever imagined.Total, already renowned for its pioneering role in deepwater development, is pursuing an ambitious exploration strategy to consolidate its position in this sector. The Group is today the leading deep offshore operator in West Africa and the ¿UVW?WR?PRQHWL]H?WKH?GHHSZDWHU?JDV?UHVRXUFHV?RI?WKH?1RUWK?6HD?T otal has earned its place in oil-industry his-tory as a deepwater pioneer. As early as 1982, the Group achieved a deep offshore feat in the Mediterranean with the successful dril-OLQJ?RI?WKH?¿UVW?H[SHULPHQWDO?ZHOO?XQGHU???????PH-ters of water.But the true showcase for Total’s innovative prowess has been the Gulf of Guinea. First oil on WKH?*LUDVVRO?¿HOG?ZDV?DFKLHYHG?LQ??????±?MXVW?VL[?years after discovery. The conquest of the deep offshore had begun.Since then, there has been no turning back. Total’s record of achievement has earned the Group operatorship on eleven developments cur-rently in production, under construction or under study in the deepwater sectors of the Gulf of Gui-nea (Angola, Congo, Nigeria) and the North Sea.A DECADE OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION Deepwater operations have come to symbolize Total’s capacity for innovation. With each new project, the Group’s R&D teams manage to invent solutions to overcome increasingly strin-gent constraints.For the Girassol project in 2001, for example, Total invented a new riser concept which con-sisted of housing all the riser pipes within three 1.5-meter-diameter “towers”, 1,250 m tall. In 2006, LQQRYDWLRQ? FHQWHUHG? RQ? WKH? ÀH[LEOH? ,QWHJUDWHG?Production Bundle (IPB) risers for Dalia.,Q?ODWH???????WKLV?WLPH?RQ?WKH?KXJH?3D]ÀRU?SURMHFW?in Angola’s deepwater acreage, Total became the ¿UVW?LQ?WKH?ZRUOG?WR?LPSOHPHQW?VXEVHD?VHSDUDWLRQ?of gas and liquids (oil + water) under 800 m of water. This step-change in technology resolves the challenge of producing the heavy, viscous oils RI?WKUHH?RXW?RI?WKH?SHUPLW¶V?IRXU?¿HOGV?With CLOV coming on-stream, on time - June 2014 - and within budget, Total’s daily output from the high-yield Block 17 will ramp-up to 700,000 barrels per day when CLOV reaches its plateau. The Group is today the leading deep offshore operator in West Africa.D e e p o f f s h o r e l E x p l o r a t i o n & P r o d u c t i o n l A u g u s t 2 0 1 4 D e e p o f f s h o r e l E x p l o r a t i o n & P r o d u c t i o n l A u g u s t 2 0 1 4A flagship industrial adventure Total, a world-class playerKaomboKaomboAtlantic OceanGulfof GuineaEginaIn productionIn developmentFields operated by Total 250 kmAkpoMoho -Nord MarineMoho -BilondoKaomboRosaGirassol-JasminDaliaClovPazflorBrazzavilleLuandaPointe NoireCabindaPort-HarcourtNIGERIACAMEROONEQUATORIAL GUINEAGABONDEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGOANGOLA54E X P E R T I S ED e e p o f f s h o r e l E x p l o r a t i o n & P r o d u c t i o n l A u g u s t 2 0 1 4Deepwater know-howW KHQ?WKH?FRORVVDO?RLO¿HOGV?±?DQG?XQVXVSHFWHG?SRWHQWLDO?±?RI?:HVW?$IULFD¶V?GHHS?RIIVKRUH?DFUHDJH?ZHUH?GLVFRYHUHG?in the late 1990s, virtually everything had to be invented from scratch to permit access to these deepwater UHVHUYHV?? 6RPH? RI? WKH? JUHDWHVW? FKDOOHQJHV? ZHUH? WR? XQGHUVWDQG? WKH? UHVHUYRLUV?? GH¿QH? VXLWDEOH? GULOOLQJ? WHFKQLTXHV?and well design, qualify subsea production systems, and develop tools for learning about and preserving abyssal ecosystems. Since those early discoveries, sprawling subsea networks have been installed in waters more than 1,000 m deep – a feat driven by a powerful innovation machine and a series of technological breakthroughs. Through its large-scale projects off the coasts of Angola, Congo and Nigeria, Total has pursued a bold industrial VWUDWHJ\\?ZKLOH?NHHSLQJ?LWV?VLJKWV?VHW?¿UPO\\?RQ?VDIHW\\?DQG?WKH?HQYLURQPHQW?Installation of ?exible pipes on the seabed for the Dalia Project.D e e p o f f s h o r e l E x p l o r a t i o n & P r o d u c t i o n l A u g u s t 2 0 1 4A key factor in Total’s success in the deep offshore has been its understanding of turbidite reservoirs – the complex, KHWHURJHQHRXV?VHGLPHQWDU\\?V\\VWHPV?VSHFL¿F?WR?WKH?GHHSZDWHU?HQYLURQPHQW??7KH?*URXS?LV?DSSO\\LQJ?FXWWLQJ?HGJH?WRROV?of geophysics to enhance the reliability of its geological models.M ost deepwater reservoirs are a type of formation known as turbidite depo-sits. When Total discovered Girassol in 1996, little was known about these systems, which thus became a major research focus for the Group’s geoscientists. A large-scale study program called ZaiAngo (for Zaire, Angola and Congo) was conducted jointly by Total and the French ocea-nographic institute Ifremer from 1998 to 2001. Its series of nine surveys in water depths from 500 to 5,000 m revealed the “submarine fan” of the Congo River. This huge system spreads over an estimated 300,000 km², of which some 200,000 km² of the total area was successful-ly mapped. The ZaiAngo program provided an under- standing of modern sediment deposition phenomena and a basis for developing reliable models applicable to similar Tertiary reservoirs, the targets for oil production.THE CHALLENGE OF SUBSALT IMAGINGIn many areas, the sedimentary systems that contain hydrocarbons are covered over by enormous dome-shaped salt bodies that act as a barrier and scatter the seismic waves normally used to build an image of the subsurface. To over-FRPH?WKLV?GLI¿FXOW\\??7RWDO?RSWHG?IRU?D?QHZ?JHQHUDWLRQ? acquisition technology called Wide Azimuth Towed Streamers (WATS) to “illuminate” the JHRORJ\\? RI? %ORFN? ???? .DRPER? ¿HOG? ?$QJR-la), which is deformed by numerous salt bodies. By combining the shots of a gi-ven point taken along various azimuths (directions), this mobile set-up – revealed geolo-gic structures that had formerly been hidden. The data set from this acquisition was processed by Total’s experts and the result was a subsurface image that provided a much more reliable depic-tion of geologic reality CONTINENTAL SLOPE, GULF OF GUINEA (CROSS-SECTION)A WATS seismic acquired on Block 32, Angola.FOCUSPromising new reservoirs In addition to being in the forefront of expertise in turbidite reservoirs, Total is working on identifying other geological structures liable to contain large accumulations of oil and/or gas: • microbiolite reservoirs: formed by microbes in shallow water depths, these microbial carbonates have gradually become buried as a result of tectonic movements;• stratigraphic traps: these reservoirs are the result of lateral changes in rock permeability and porosity. For example, oil and gas can become trapped when a porous, permeable reservoir rock (sandstone) transitions to an impermeable seal (shale).MILESTONESThe complex architecture of turbidite reservoirs Turbidite reservoirs form when sediments accumulate at the mouth of major rivers or alluvial systems. This build-up periodically triggers subsea landslides, whose recurrence eventually leads to the formation of vast sedimentary bodies that contain numerous sandstone reservoirs. Such submarine “avalanches” transport sediments over hundreds of kilometers into the deep ocean plain, where they are deposited in large lobe-shaped expanses.E X P E R T I S EMapping complex geologies76D e e p o f f s h o r e l E x p l o r a t i o n & P r o d u c t i o n l A u g u s t 2 0 1 4The challenging constraints of the deepwater context coupled with the high cost of the related infrastructure call for ever-greater optimization of production. Total deploys a variety of development schemes designed to ensure high well SURGXFWLYLW\\?DQG?HI¿FLHQW?WUDQVSRUW?RI?WKH?ÀXLGV?WR?WKH?VXUIDFH??T o be economically viable, deep-water GHYHORSPHQWV?UHTXLUH?¿QH?WXQHG?PDQDJH?ment of drilling operations, due to their extremely high cost.The number of wells must therefore be kept to a minimum while achieving maximum productivity – up to 40,000 barrels/day (b/d) – in each one.To optimize recovery from the reservoirs, drilling long horizontal (or sharply deviated) wells is im-perative. Well path design and drilling operations are crucial and demand extensive integration of geological and drilling expertise. Sismage™ makes such integration possible. This seismic interpretation tool developed in-house by Total is unmatched in the world. Its performance is enhanced by its additional modules, Well Design (which designs and checks the technical feasi-bility of well trajectories) and Geosteering (for real-time optimization of borehole trajectories according to the geological layers encountered).FLOW ASSURANCE .HHSLQJ?WKH?ÀXLGV?ÀRZLQJ?LV?RQH?RI?WKH?PRVW?FUL-tical challenges of the deepwater context, where low temperatures, high pressures, and poorly consolidated reservoirs can all lead to blockages in production lines. 7R?¿QG?VROXWLRQV??7RWDO?KDV?GHYHORSHG?D?YHULWDEOH?center of excellence that pools the complemen-tary expertise of physicists, chemists and equip-ment designers. Innovations that have come out of this collaborative effort include Leda Flow™, D?QHZ?FDOFXODWLRQ?FRGH?IRU?PXOWLSKDVH?ÀRZV??DQG?hydrate prevention solutions such as Spaceloft™, a new-generation insulating material originally developed for astronauts’ spacesuits.ENHANCING THE PERFORMANCE OF FLOATING PRODUCTION VESSELS The FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Of-ÀRDGLQJ?? FRQFHSW? ZDV? GHYHORSHG? IRU? GHHSZDWHU?sites distant from existing export networks. These ÀRDWHUV?DUH?HTXLSSHG?RQERDUG?ZLWK?DOO?WKH?IDFLOLWLHV?required for operations such as processing, sto-rage and export of the production. For the past ten years, Total has contributed to the continual design optimization of these giants to improve their RSHUDWLRQDO?ÀH[LELOLW\\?DQG?PHFKDQLFDO?VWUHQJWK?Paz?or’s sprawling subsea production and injection network comprises almost 260 km of pipelines and umbilicals.FOCUSLatest-generation drillships The drilling rigs used for deepwater development are actually large ships with the capacity to bear the weight of very long risers. The most recent drillships can work in water depths of more than 3,000 meters. Moreo-ver, the new-generation vessels are generally equipped with a double derrick, which cuts drilling time by 10 to 20% depending on the phase of operations.The Pride Africa and Pride Angola, built in 1999 and 2000 respectively, were the ?rst drillships that Total deployed to Angola’s deepwater zone. In 2010, these two vessels received additional support from the Saipem 12000.MILESTONESCLOV, Total’s second all-electric FPSO.CLOV, the ?rst to bene?t from Variable Speed Drive technology, which helps to optimize energy consumption.• The hull is more than 300 m long and 60 m wide, and contains immense oil storage tanks (and other equipment), with capacity on the order of 1.8 Mb.• Their decks support hundreds of tons of topsides: operational systems and living quarters for the per-sonnel;• They have production capacity of up to 160,000 b/d.D e e p o f f s h o r e l E x p l o r a t i o n & P r o d u c t i o n l A u g u s t 2 0 1 4Protecting ecosystems effectively from any potential impacts of production operations requires an awareness of the species involved. For this reason, Total is involved in study programs dedicated to advancing knowledge of abyssal life.W hat types of species inhabit the ocean deeps? In the late 1990s, no one yet could answer that question. Total played a role in discovering these life forms via the BioZaire study project launched in partnership with the French oceanographic research institu-te Ifremer in 1999. This project was dedicated to abyssal (or “benthic”) ecosystems off the coast of Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo).The study has continued based on data gathered in 2008 by the environmental component of the ERIG 3D (Evaluation of Risks and Geohazards in 3D) project carried out in the vicinity of the Usan site (Nigeria). Here, the aims are to broaden the inventory of benthic fauna and characterize the geology and geochemical nature of the habitats of this zone.THE LATEST IN ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING Total complies with the most stringent internatio-nal regulations and innovates to keep close track of the environmental performance of its offshore operations. In June 2010, the Group undertook a large-scale environmental monitoring campai-gn off the coast of the Republic of the Congo to assess the effectiveness of various innovative means of evaluating deep-sea status:• analysis of foraminifers, microorganisms (10 to 500 µm) that inhabit the sediments of all marine HQYLURQPHQWV?• passive sensors designed to detect target subs-WDQFHV?HYHQ?DW?YHU\\?ORZ?FRQFHQWUDWLRQV?• biomarkers, as indicators of the toxic effects of RQH?RU?PRUH?FRQWDPLQDQWV?• ecotoxicology testing by tracking the develop-ment of oyster larvae cultivated in sediment ta-ken from the site.By conducting a baseline inventory of all envi-ronmental parameters before beginning work on any project, Total is determined to ensure optimal protection of the biodiversity near its operating facilities. This effort remains consistent from the start of drilling through the complete dismantling of the production facilities Aerial view of the platforms used during the N’Kossa (Congo) monitoring campaign.MILESTONESLife in the ocean deepsBeneath more than 3,000 meters of water, abundant species diversity thrives in subsea “oases” vast ?elds of yellow and white bivalves; “bushes” of giant tu-beworms more than 2 m tall harboring clouds of white shrimps; tentacular sea anemones; purple holothu-rians, and more.At these depths, there is no light and therefore no pho-tosynthesis; temperatures are around 4°C and hydrosta-tic pressure can be as high as 400 bar. In this environ-ment, life depends on the cold, methane-laden natural ?uids that erupt from the sea ?oor.E X P E R T I S EPreserving marine biodiversityE X P E R T I S EOptimizing production98I N N O V A T I O N A N D P E R F O R M A N C ED e e p o f f s h o r e l E x p l o r a t i o n & P r o d u c t i o n l A u g u s t 2 0 1 4Sustainable production for exploiting all types of reservoir A lthough the major technological hurdles of the deep offshore have now been overcome, the cost of exploiting these resources bears no comparison to that of the conventional offshore. To optimize project economics, particularly when reservoirs are small, distant from shore, or contain oil that is harder to produce, innovation remains the vital key to a viable future. By the same token, innovation is essential to improve recovery factors, extend the service life of facilities and ensure their reliability over time.These economic imperatives go hand in hand with a determined commitment to operate responsibly by effectively managing risks and limiting the environmental footprint of deepwater developments.In Nigeria, Akpo’s speci?c development scheme allows for the recovery of gas-rich condensates.D e e p o f f s h o r e l E x p l o r a t i o n & P r o d u c t i o n l A u g u s t 2 0 1 4Small individual reservoirs – sometimes located very far from shore – pose the greatest challenges to the future of deep offshore development. Total’s R&D is studying several solutions in an effort to guarantee the safety and improve WKH?HFRQRPLFV?RI?WUDQVSRUWLQJ?HIÀXHQWV?VXEVHD?RYHU?GLVWDQFHV?RI?????NLORPHWHUV?RU?PRUH?I N N O V A T I O N A N D P E R F O R M A N C ESolutions for long distances I n recent years, Total has added a number of isolated reservoirs in the North Sea, offshore Nigeria and offshore Angola to its oil and gas portfolio. In addition to being relatively small, these reservoirs are several hundred kilometers away from the coast. Developing these resources, which will account for a major share of future growth in deep offshore production, requires some major step changes in technology.ELECTRIC HEATING OF PRODUCTION LINESWhen transport involves long distances, no insulation system, no matter how effective, can VXI¿FH?WR?NHHS?K\\GURFDUERQ?WHPSHUDWXUHV?DERYH?the threshold for hydrate formation. Hydrates are solid compounds liable to plug pipes. The only solution is to heat the multiphase lines that WUDQVSRUW?WKH?SURGXFWLRQ?HIÀXHQWV?7RWDO? LV? LQ? WKH? YDQJXDUG? RI? WKLV? ¿HOG?? ZLWK? WZR?technologies under development:• Trace heating: electric heating wires are wound between the two pipes of an insulated pipe- LQ?SLSH? OLQH?? 7KH? *URXS? LV? WKH? ¿UVW? WR? WHVW? WKLV?technology on a subsea gas pipeline linking the new Islay gas development in the British sector of the North Sea to the subsea gas gathering network that Total has already deployed over the area. • Composite fabric: the Energized Composite So-lutions (ECS) technology capitalizes on the pro-perties of a composite fabric coating to heat the OLQHV??7KLV?VROXWLRQ?LV?QRZ?XQGHUJRLQJ?D?TXDOL¿-cation program and has demonstrated a number of advantages over electric trace heating wires. 7KHVH?LQFOXGH?WKH?OLJKWHU?ZHLJKW?DQG?ÀH[LELOLW\\?RI?the fabric that enable it to conform to any geo-metry, a more even distribution of heat, sim-SOL¿HG? UHSDLU?? DQG? ORZ? YXOQHUDELOLW\\? WR? ORFDOL]HG?damage thanks to the many interconnections EHWZHHQ?WKH?KHDWLQJ?¿ODPHQWV??SUBSEA TO SHORE )RU?JDV?¿HOGV??LQQRYDWLRQ?HIIRUWV?IRFXV?RQ?³VXEVHD?WR? VKRUH´? FRQ¿JXUDWLRQV?HQWDLOLQJ? YHU\\? ORQJ? VXE-sea pipelines. These “all electric” developments run on locally-generated power. They will include WKH?LQVWDOODWLRQ?±?GLUHFWO\\?RQ?WKH?VHDÀRRU?±?RI?JDV?condensate separation modules, facilities for che-mical storage and injection, and gas compression stations. The lines that transport the gas to shore can extend for hundreds of kilometers. Hydrate inhibitors will be injected continuously to prevent hydrate formation The development of “subsea to shore” technologies is one of the keys to monetizing gas from deep offshore reservoirs.FOCUSDEPTH: a self-contained subsea plant Even more ambitious goals lie ahead: Total’s R&D is studying a concept for an autonomous integrated sub-sea plant – the equivalent of a subsea FPSO. Known as DEPTH (for Deep Export & Production Treatment Hub), this concept could be deployed by around 2030 to produce, fully treat and export “re?nery-ready” well ?uids to shore. A production pipe coated with a self-heating composite fabric enables active management of pipe temperature: a solution for controlling hydrate formation.1110D e e p o f f s h o r e l E x p l o r a t i o n & P r o d u c t i o n l A u g u s t 2 0 1 4As the industry moves forward, it will be facing new challenges in the form of ultra deep waters, long transport GLVWDQFHV??VPDOO?UHVHUYRLUV?DQG?GLI¿FXOW?RLOV??6XEVHD?SURFHVVLQJ?±?D?WHUP?WKDW?UHIHUV?WR?WKH?IXOO?UDQJH?RI?DUWL¿FLDO?OLIW?DQG?SURFHVVLQJ?WHFKQRORJLHV?FDUULHG?RXW?RQ?WKH?VHDÀRRU?±?ZLOO?RYHUFRPH?WKHP?D e e p o f f s h o r e l E x p l o r a t i o n & P r o d u c t i o n l A u g u s t 2 0 1 4Now is the time to prepare for tomorrow’s aging deepwater facilities. Reinforcing their safety and reliability will depend on careful monitoring and the development of more effective inspection and repair solutions.B y 2017, Total will be operating 8 deepwa-ter FPSO vessels, 2 FPU vessels, along with some 450 to 500 subsea wells. Whe-ther already on stream or under development, these ¿HOGV?DUH?ORFDWHG?LQ?D?KDUVK?RSHUDWLQJ?HQYLURQPHQW??Moreover, they are destined to produce for twenty years or more. With time, they will require an increa-sing number of servicing interventions.Total’s deep offshore Inspection, Maintenance and Repair (IMR) experts are fully mobilized to meet this challenge. And the stakes are high. Their job is to develop tools that can optimize the operability, reliability and safety of tomorrow’s PDWXUH?¿HOGV?COMING SOON: AN AUV FOR PIPELINE INSPECTION Operators at the surface must have a comprehen-sive vision of the status of subsea infrastructure in order to intervene promptly if necessary. With that goal in mind, Total entered a partnership with Che-vron to study and develop an innovative IMR sys-tem.Equipped with navigation systems, this Autono-mous Underwater Vehicle will perform both acous-tic and visual inspections of pipes. It will also moni-tor the supporting seabed for any deterioration and take electrical measurements of corrosion activity. Inspections are currently carried out by Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), controlled from a ves-sel at the surface. Replacing them with AUVs offers VRPH?VLJQL¿FDQW?DGYDQWDJHV??• Lower inspection costs: an AUV carries out an inspection four times faster than a ROV, and its VHOI?VXI¿FLHQF\\? GLVSHQVHV? ZLWK? WKH? QHHG? IRU? D?support ship during the inspection operations. • Pipeline integrity is improved because AUVs offer higher availability than ROVs. Eventually, perma-nent surveillance systems will allow better moni-toring.$IWHU? GH¿QLQJ? WKH?$89? VSHFL¿FDWLRQV? LQ? OLQH? ZLWK?our needs in 2012, we invited contractors to bid WR?GHYHORS?DQ?$89??6SHFL¿FDWLRQV? LQFOXGH?SKRWR-graphy equipment, laser and sonar measurement systems.A CLOSE WATCH ON SUBSEA SYSTEMS The integrity of subsea pipelines and other equip-ment is the key to safe, reliable deepwater deve-lopments. Total is running a number of programs to research effective, economically viable solutions in this area:• The Riser Annulus Condition Surveillance (RACS) V\\VWHP?LV?DQ?LQQRYDWLYH?PRQLWRULQJ?WRRO?IRU?ÀH[LEOH?ULVHUV?? ,W? FDQ?GHWHFW?DQ\\?DQRPDO\\? LQ? WKH?ÀH[LEOH?riser annulus that is liable – sooner or later – to OHDG?WR?D?OLQH?UXSWXUH?• Using an ROV controlled from the surface to inspect the hull of an FPSO vessel would en-hance the safety of operations while limiting diver interventions and the associated accident risk, particularly in rough seas.7RWDO?LV?DOVR?FRPPLWWHG?WR?¿QGLQJ?QHZ?VROXWLRQV?WR?manage the risks of well blowout during drilling. The goal is to develop equipment tailored to prompt interventions in the deepwater context and able to control and contain the well and cap the leak Copyright photo : Technique EffectsMILESTONESReal-time monitoring of geohazards Slope instability, faults and mudslides are just some of the dangers present on the ocean ?oor. To date, surveys could assess these risks only during a ?nite win-dow of time.A new real-time, continuous subsea monitoring station developed and patented by Total in late 2011 marks a global ?rst in this area. Known as HORUS (for Hazards Observatory for Risk analysis by Unde-rwater System), this station is equipped with numerous sensors. It sets off a warning if it detects danger for the personnel or the infrastructure. This major innovation is set to be tested soon on one of Total’s production sites. I N N O V A T I O N A N D P E R F O R M A N C EManaging asset maturity and controlling risks I N N O V A T I O N A N D P E R F O R M A N C EProducing difficult oils and maximizing recovery T RWDO? OHG? WKH?ZD\\? LQWR? WKH?VWUDWHJLF?¿HOG?RI?VXEVHD? SURFHVVLQJ? ZLWK? 3D]ÀRU?? WKH? ¿UVW?deep offshore development to implement subsea gas-liquids separation and pumping of the liquids on a large scale. Three subsea separation units installed under 800 m of water (each consis-ting of a gas-liquids separation module and two new-generation hybrid pumps) are deployed to boost the liquids up to the surface.:LWK?WKH?TXDOL¿FDWLRQ?RI?DQ?LQQRYDWLYH?+LJK?%RRVW?pump developed by Framo, Total achieved a QHZ?PLOHVWRQH? LQ?VXEVHD?SXPSLQJ?RI?ÀXLGV? IURP? a deep offshore reservoir, by reconciling high SRZHU? ????? EDU??ZLWK? WKH? DELOLW\\? WR? KDQGOH? ÀXLGV?containing a large volume of residual gas (Gas Volume Fraction, or GVF). ARTIFICIAL LIFT, SEPARATION, SULFATE REMOVALMastering subsea gas lift has major implications for Total. The Group is involved in developing a ¿HOG?SLORW?IRU?WKH?cVJDUG?SURMHFW?LQ?WKH?1RUWK?6HD??When reservoir pressure declines after several years of production, gas compression on the sea-ÀRRU?EHFRPHV?HVVHQWLDO? IRU? WUDQVSRUWLQJ? WKH?JDV?over long distances. Liquid-liquid separation is another decisive step toward maximizing the recovery on mature oil ¿HOGV??7KH?TXDQWLW\\?RI?SURGXFHG?ZDWHU? LQHYLWDEO\\?LQFUHDVHV?RYHU?WKH?¿HOG¶V?OLIH??7KH?SXUSRVH?RI?VXE-sea liquid-liquid separation is to remove that water from the hydrocarbons (oil and gas) rather than bring it up to the FPSO.In the future, the seawater injected into the reser-voirs to enhance oil recovery will be treated on WKH? VHDÀRRU? DV? ZHOO?? 7KH? *URXS? LV? ZRUNLQJ? RQ?a subsea seawater sulfate removal unit called SPRINGS (for Subsea Processing and Injection Gear for Seawater), designed to treat and inject between 5,000 and 50,000 barrels of water/day. Total is also focusing on expanding its use of electrical controls, which offer distinct advantages over hydraulic systems in terms of reliability, responsiveness and environmental impact The SPRINGS sulfate removal unit (for Subsea Processing and Injection Gear for Seawater) is under development.FOCUSSubsea pumps for any con?guration By developing a range of subsea pumping solutions, Total can avail itself of technologies suited to the varying needs of its portfolio of deep offshore assets: • for arti?cial lift of ?uids right from the start of production in the case of heavy, viscous oils from reservoirs that are deeply buried or far from produc-tion hubs;• for maintaining plateau production on mature ?elds by supplying lift energy at the sea?oor to maximize the recovery volume as the reservoirs decline.MILESTONESWorld ?rst: a ?eld pilot for polymer-viscosi?ed water injectionsChemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) is aimed at im-proving the water’s “piston” effect on the oil to ensure a more effective sweep of the reservoir. On its Dalia ?eld (Angola), Total achieved a world ?rst by injecting water after modifying its viscosity by adding speci?c polymers. The pilot unit was tested on the three water injection wells of Camelia, one of the four Dalia reservoirs. The Paz?or development plan revolves mainly around the deployment of subsea separation and pumping installations.