Simple Subsea Trees for Shallow Water: An Economical Alternative

Abstract

Sinple, eliver assisted subsea carpletions have been installed and operated successfully in many shallow water oil fields around the world. Although these simple subsea trees have not received the notoriety of their more "glam:>rous" deep-water relatives, shallow subsea trees are far nore n1.IlOOrous. Simple trees have proven themselves to be reliable, cost effective alternatives for shallow to lrediUIII water depth carpletions where "COllplex" diverless trees are not required. 'nUs paper presents a history of the developrent and evolution of simple subsea trees and describes several typical applications. The relative econanics l:ebleen "simple" and "COllplex" subsea carpletions are discussed, along with general guidelines for deterIni.nin:J when and where the use of sinple subsea is appropriate.