Wet Christmas Tree – New Approach to Model Next Generation Control and Monitoring Systems

Abstract

This initial proposition presents a conceptual design regarding the upcoming aspects of a standardized wet Christmas tree (WCT) with electrification aspects. The study comprises not only fail safe close electrical actuators and its control system but also integration aspects, leading to an analysis of the complete system. The objective is to conceptualize a standardized electrical WCT system with quality and suitability equivalent to those of the standard electrical/hydraulic multiplexed control (EHMUX) WCT system applied in Brazilian Pre-Salt fields. The use of a standardized Pre-Salt WCT, is the key to have time and cost reduction on a new WCT system, based on a 10 years’ experience in operating on Pre-Salt Basin conditions. The EHMUX system has proved the efficiency and is a robust system able to operate in 2500m depth and 10000psi, with high carbonic gas concentration. Therefore, the main idea is to use this platform to a conversion to a high reliability electrical WCT system with Fail Safe Close, using a new electrical actuator qualification program. One of the most important features of a new electrification system must having is a capacity to transduce production or injection conditions into readable variables where this set of information will be useful either to monitor, control and estimate other information such as life cycle considerations (e.g., maintenance), components or subsystems deterioration, and equipment’s life extension.