476 



A similar spherical habitat has been tested as part of a proto- 

 type seabed oil production system designed by Lockheed Offshore 

 Petroleum Systems (Fig. 3). The manned capsule (Fig. 4) is designed 

 for a one-atmosphere environment at depths of 1,200 feet, and the 

 whole system can be extended to 2,000 feet. The system includes well- 

 head cell a re, pipeline assembly, manifold center on the sea floor, and 

 gathering lines that carry the petroleum either to subsea storage or 

 directly to surface separators. 



Figure 3. — Conceptual design of an underwater petroleum production system. The 

 system involves construction and emplacement on the ocean floor of man-rated 

 pressure hulls containing normal oilfield components. Components are serviced 

 by manned capsule (see Fig. 4). Adapted from material supplied by Lockheed 

 Petroleum Services, Ltd., British Columbia, Canada. 



Separators are systems that separate the gas from the oil to facili- 

 tate pumping the oil to storage facilities ashore or to mooring tankers. 

 The most recent application of a subsea production system was under- 

 taken by the Dubai Petroleum Company in the Arabian Gulf (Fig. 

 5). 63 In 1960 the storage-tank. Khazzan Dubai No. 1, was placed on the 

 sea floor 58 miles from shore, and in 1970 the first self-setting oil/gas 



83 The need for this subsea production system arose following the discovery in June 19C>fi 

 of the Pateh Field about GO miles off the shore of Dubai. To develop this field, the com- 

 pany would have had to lay pipeline .ill the way to shore for storage then lay more pipe 



lines back from shore storage facilities to reach water 10 miles offshore lieep enough to 

 accommodate tankers for loading. The whole production system was exhibited at the 

 oeennoiogv International 1969 exh'b'l Th« storage tank vas emnlaeed in August of thai 

 year. It was hullt al COSt of about $7 million by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company. 

 In April ior.9, British Petroleum Company Ltd. r personal communication] was planning to 

 tevt n limited subsea product ion scheme Involving an oil and gas separation unit on the 

 -. abed elsewhere In the Arabian Gulf. This separator was emplaced in August 1970 on well 

 No. .■'.i'. with all processing equipment resting on the sea floor. The separator started proc- 

 essing crude oil initially at 5,000 barrels per day, separating oil and gas. measuring them, 

 and discharging t'e oil Into a pinpllne to shore. This development illustrates further the 

 speed with which petroleum technology is advancing from the conceptual stage to the 

 operational stage. 



