Technical Challenges of the Yacheng 13–1 Pipelines Design and Construction

Abstract

The Yacheng 13-i Gas Project is under development by ARCO China Inc. acting as Operator, with its partners CNOOC and KUFPEC. The field lies to the south of Hainan Island in the People's Republic of China (PRC). Gas, containing some CO2 and H2S, is due to be produced and processed through two offshore platforms in approximately 90 meters water depth. Introduction The Yacheng 13–1 Gas Field lies about 90km south of Hainan Island in the South China Sea. The transported gas contains H2S and CO2 and condensate. The field is nearly 800km from Hong Kong. The field development plan is to take dry gas to a power station in Hong Kong and condensate in two-phase flow with gas to Hainan Island. Figure 1 shows the overall layout. Natural gas will be transported via a 28-inch nominal outside diameter pipeline to onshore facilities in Hong Kong at the Black Point Power Station. A summary of pipeline characteristics is given in Table 1. The derivation of these is discussed throughout the paper. At the time of writing, all installation work is complete and the pipelines have been flooded and hydrotested prior to pre-commissioning. OVERALL SCHEDULE Gas is required at the new Black Point power station in Hong Kong in late 1995. Contracts were let for detailed design and procurement in Spring 1992, following agreements on gas sales. Prior to Spring 1992, feasibility studies and a preliminary survey had been performed. P. 495