An Introduction to Primary Production Facilities
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Published:2016
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This chapter is an introduction to primary production facilities. Regardless of the placement of the facility, on shore, on platforms, on floating vessels (FPSOs and the like), or on other offshore structures, or even in some cases on the ocean floor, the purpose of these facilities is the same. The production facility is used to condition the produced fluid mixture from a reservoir into components that are suitable for the next use. In general, the mixture is separated into liquid hydrocarbons, natural gas, and produced water. The liquid hydrocarbons, generically termed oil in this chapter, and the natural gas, generically termed gas, may need additional treatment before the next use or sale that is beyond the scope of this chapter. The produced water may need additional treatment depending on what is to be done with the water. The next use may be sale of the oil and gas or perhaps transport to another facility. The produced water may be disposed in an injection well, conditioned to a quality that can be dumped back into the ocean, or conditioned for reuse.