Operators, FMC team up to develop subsea production equipment

Anadarko Petroleum Corp., BP PLC, ConocoPhillips, and Royal Dutch Shell PLC have signed an agreement with FMC Technologies Inc. to jointly develop next-generation standardized subsea production equipment and systems for producing oil and gas from deepwater high-pressure, high-temperature reservoirs.

The group plans to build the equipment and systems to withstand pressures reaching 20,000 psi and temperatures reaching 350° F. at the mudline, while improving overall deepwater development through the standardization of materials, processes, and interfaces, as well as the enhancement of reliability and operability.

BP previously reported its intention with Maersk Drilling to develop conceptual engineering designs for next-generation offshore drilling rigs as part of the company’s Project 20K, an initiative to develop what BP calls “next-generation systems…to help unlock the next frontier of deepwater oil and gas resources (OGJ Online, Feb. 8, 2013).” At the time the company said current equipment has a technical limit of 15,000 psi and 250° F.