Assessment of technical building blocks for the development of Leningradskoe field in the Kara Sea

Abstract

As existing oil and gas fields’ productivity is depleting, operators in the oil and gas industry are always searching for new prospects of reserves. Due to this reason, the Arctic shelf is becoming more important than ever, and it is believed to be a big pie for future development. However, the expansion of operations in the Arctic region requires the development of new technologies and solutions that can cope with harsh physical conditions. Leningradskoe field is located in the southwest of the Kara Sea. Even though existing severe arctic conditions indicate the high cost that might be involved in the field development, there is no scientific literature so far, disclosing a technical assessment of any sort carried out regarding the activity. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new technologies and concepts for Arctic offshore fields, including Leningradskoe field. Nowadays, some technology is sufficiently proven to have a high reliability and are ready for use in the freezing waters. At the same time, there are some technical problems associated with the adaptation of these technologies to the harsh conditions of the Arctic waters as well as the remoteness of the field. The Master’s thesis focuses on the technology assessment of five major areas, which are all crucial to the development of Leningradskoe field. They are 1) drilling technical block, 2) reservoir engineering, 3) pipeline technical block, 4) production technical block and 5) technical block of logistics. This Master’s thesis aims to contribute to the field development by providing a structured review of common technological problems; existing technologies, methods and best practices of work; and technology, the development of which is required for operations in Leningradskoe gas and condensate field. The evaluation of the most significant risks is performed in the form of Bowtie risk analysis. The results of the literature review, analysis of existing technology and research papers were synthesized by organizing the research and technical development (R&D) roadmap for the development of Leningradskoe field.