Strategic Resilience: Re-Purposing Gas Lift Compressors for Flare Reduction in Pursuit of Carbon Neutrality

Abstract

In the collective pursuit of Carbon Net Zero, Company and its industry peers have embarked on a proactive journey to curtail carbon emissions. Among these efforts, one of the East Coast offshore Sarawak fields in Malaysia faced stringent flaring constraints since 2023, mandating a reduction from 12.4 MMscfd to 7.0 MMscfd, consequently impacting oil production. To address this challenge, an interim solution has been devised, ingeniously leveraging the ongoing Gas Lift Compressor (GLC) upgrade project to mitigate production losses until the Flare Gas Recovery project is fully operational. The strategic intervention entails utilizing dormant reservoirs at the production platform for gas injection, ranging from 3.0 to 6.0 MMscfd, thus establishing a prudent gas storage mechanism poised for future monetization. To execute this strategy, the subsurface team is tasked with identifying reservoirs amenable to gas injection, while the Production Technology team meticulously assesses idle strings and generates comprehensive production profiles across varied injection rates. Simultaneously, the Facilities team conducts a rigorous evaluation of the GLC upgrades, which involve doubling the compressor capacity to meet the increased gas lift demand. This enhancement, encompassing the installation of two gas lift compressors capable of delivering 3.0 MMSCF each, up from1.5 MMSCF, is pivotal in supporting the gas injection initiative. The implementation of this strategic intervention yields immediate benefits, including the mitigation of production loss, adherence to flare limits without compromising oil production, and the strategic preservation of gas for subsequent monetization endeavors. However, it is recognized that the GLC upgrade may potentially impact the attainability of the oil profile. Moreover, the strategic deployment of this initiative necessitates prudent financial allocation, entailing additional capital expenditure to systematically debottleneck facilities in seamless support of the proposed solution. This paper provides a systematic exploration of the nuanced intricacies, formidable challenges, and adept solutions associated with targeted flaring reduction, coupled with the sophisticated repurposing of GLCs. By deftly leveraging ongoing projects and strategic initiatives, this approach not only facilitates the resumption of production in the field but also propels the industry closer to achieving ambitious Carbon Net Zero objectives.