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A SUBSEA equipment upgrade by VetcoGray is expected to increase production from the Lobito Tomboco oilfield, offshore Angola, by 7,000-10,000 barrels per day.
VetcoGray has signed a $27million contract with Chevron to retrofit the existing subsea trees in the field, which has been in production since June, 2006. The increase in production is expected to occur shortly after the retrofit project is completed later this year.
Once the equipment upgrade is completed, the operator will be able to conduct scale-squeeze operations that will inhibit scale formation on the initial equipment and piping systems.
A key to this operation will be the application of large volumes of chemical in a short period of time, which cannot be achieved through a typical chemical dosing line.
Under this Angola contract, VetcoGray has responsibility for the total subsea system. New equipment to be supplied for the retrofit will include scale-squeeze inserts for short and long-term operations; a fluid cap; a choke insert with full functionality with an additional port for chemical injection, and a chemical line with landing skid. VetcoGray says the use of its choke interface, a port in the subsea tree, allows choke inserts (the pressure/flow controlling element) to be removed and replaced as required during the life of the field.