(181b) An Integrated Urban PLAN for CO-Developing OIL & Gas Fields

The Urban Plan is the conceptual capturing and definition of the surface facilities, gathering and exporting networks, as well as the supporting infrastructure such as electrical power, fencing, access for drilling rigs, etc. In the context of an oil and gas fields development, the urban plan focuses explicitly on the surface aspects of the life cycle development of the field. As a process, it involves strategic planning, technical evaluation, consultation, concept engineering, development planning, and collaboration between a host of stakeholders. Normally, it minimizes production deferment, optimizes cost for future developments, and proactively addresses HSSE risks and their mitigations.

Its associated challenges start with the assumed maturing mechanism(s) for a field(s) i.e. its development phases; production targets/plateaus; wells drilling sequence and patterns; in addition to reservoir uncertainties e.g. souring, and production, etc. The spectrum of the surface challenges embraces flow assurance; existing infrastructure; supply of utilities (water, power, fuel gas, etc.); current flowlines and pipelines networks; running facilities limitations; Logistics; and many more.

This urban plan is unique as it integrates the surface facilities and infrastructure of three distinguished gas, conventional oil, and heavy oil fields that are all sour and largely co-exist on a congested surface footprint though however, at different subsurface depths with reservoir boundaries. The uniqueness originates from the simultaneous development of the three fields with diverse recovery mechanisms (natural depletion, heavy oil cold production, EOR/IOR flood, etc.), and the co-existence of rigs to drill single and multiple wells pads, as well as the scattered early production facilities, arbitrary comingled pipelines networks, and temporary infrastructure escalate the potential complexity of developing the integrated urban plan and contribute to Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS) concerns and challenges.

The key success factors were early engagement with stakeholders, harmonization between developing teams, cognitive flexibility, and synergy enabled the timely identification of common grounds and rational utilization of the surface footprint particularly with the massive well counts needed to drain the heavy oil field and the change of recovery mechanism in later developments.

The paper concludes the successful partnership and integration of multi- disciplines and multi-teams within Kuwait Oil Company and Shell Kuwait E&P resulting in an integrated master urban plan that hosts the short, medium, and long-term surface facilities, pipelines networks, and associated infrastructure that grant the co-production of the three fields whilst satisfying the vast maturation mechanisms; limited surface footprint; timely simultaneous developments; and HSSE guidelines.