Often Great Lakes Wellhead gets asked, “Which seal is best for my Wellhead?” Here is what we think!
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The deciding factors for determining which seal should be used in your wellhead should be based on temperature, environmental conditions, and cost.
Temperature is the most common deciding factor for determining which seal is best to use. Factors to consider when determining temperature include atmospheric temperature, formation or fluid temperature and welding temperature (Preheat and Post weld heat). The following table shows the temperature ranges of various seal elastomers commonly used in API 6A wellheads.
Figure 1: Temperature Rating Chart for common elastomers used in seals
Environmental conditions will also determine which seat compound to use. For the oil and gas industry, factors to consider include: H2S, Chemical treatments, particulates (debris, sand, salt), the velocity of fluids, CO2, Ozone or Sunlight, Fungus or Mold, and oxidation.
Common seals used in our industry are BUNA (NBR or Nitrile Rubber), VITON (Fluorocarbon, FKM or FPM), or HSN (Highly Saturated Nitrite or HNBR).
All provide excellent compression set resistance and both are designed to resist most oils and lubricants, especially petroleum-based lubricants.
BUNA (NBR or Nitrile Rubber)
VITON (Fluorocarbon, FKM, or FPM)
HSN (Highly Saturated Nitrite or HNBR)
All of these seals provide good to excellent resistance to the common chemicals used in the oil and natural gas industry. Some of the more exotic chemical treatments may present an issue and should be examined on a case-by-case basis. A good resource for reviewing the compatibility of specific chemicals can be found here: https://www.coleparmer.com/Chemical-Resistance
Wellhead platforms (WHPs) are a crucial part of offshore oil and gas extraction. These platforms, typically supported by four legs, sit above underwater wells and house the equipment needed to extract oil and gas from the seabed. Unlike some larger platforms, WHPs are usually unmanned, controlled remotely and visited only for maintenance.
Traditional WHPs boast multiple decks for various functions, including a helipad, a cellar deck for wellheads, a main deck for processing equipment, and a spider deck providing access to individual wells. The number of wells on a WHP can vary greatly, from a handful to several dozen. Drilling these wells is often done by jack-up rigs that can latch onto the platform.
The industry trend is towards leaner, more cost-effective WHP designs. This means minimizing the number of facilities and equipment on the platform. Standardization across different projects allows for faster fabrication times and reduced engineering costs. Additionally, choosing modular components makes it easier to expand the platform's capabilities later on. These design changes also lead to improved operational efficiency, such as easier spare parts management and less need for personnel on the platform itself.
With a focus on cost-consciousness, the coming years promise exciting developments in WHP design and technology. The industry is moving towards more streamlined and adaptable platforms that deliver efficient oil and gas extraction while keeping costs under control.
Categorizing WHPs by Size
Wellhead platforms come in various sizes, with the medium WHP being a common category. While there isn't a universally agreed-upon weight range for a medium WHP, it typically falls between the lighter, simpler small WHPs and the massive large WHPs. Here's a breakdown of the typical characteristics:
*Small WHPs:** These are lightweight platforms with a minimal number of wells (typically 3-10) and limited processing capabilities. They are often used for smaller oil and gas reserves or early production phases of a field.
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*Medium WHPs:** These platforms offer a balance between size and functionality. They can accommodate a moderate number of wells (10-32) and have processing equipment for basic oil and gas separation and treatment. They might also have additional facilities like living quarters for a small crew for short-term operations.
*Large WHPs:** These are heavyweight platforms designed for large-scale production. They can support a significant number of wells (over 32) and extensive processing facilities for complete oil and gas separation, treatment, and sometimes even storage. They often have large crews and can be highly complex structures.
Comparing WHP Sizes
*Medium vs. Small WHPs:** Medium WHPs offer greater production capacity due to their increased well slots and processing capabilities, making them suitable for larger reserves or higher production rates. However, they are also more complex and expensive.
*Medium vs. Large WHPs:** Large WHPs handle significantly larger volumes but come with even higher costs. Choosing the right platform size depends on the size of the reservoir, the expected production rate, and the overall project budget.
Light WHPs represent the other end of the spectrum compared to medium WHPs. These compact platforms are designed for the most basic production needs:
*Light WHPs:** These are the smallest and most lightweight WHPs. They typically have a very limited number of well slots (3 or fewer) and minimal processing equipment. They are ideal for very small reserves or marginal fields where the cost of a larger platform wouldn't be justified.
Comparing Medium WHPs to Light WHPs
*Light WHPs** offer significant advantages in terms of cost and deployment speed. Their simplicity makes them much faster and cheaper to design, fabricate, and install. However, their production capacity is very limited. They are best suited for situations where a small amount of oil or gas needs to be extracted quickly and cost-effectively.
Choosing the Right WHP Size
The decision between a light, medium, or large WHP hinges on several factors:
* Reservoir size and production rate
* Project budget
* Water depth
## The Future of WHPs
The focus on leaner designs extends to all WHP sizes. Here's how:
*Standardization and modularity:** This allows for faster fabrication, easier maintenance, and improved spare parts management across all sizes.
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