Ikatan Ahli Teknik Perminyakan Indonesia

Ikatan Ahli Teknik Perminyakan Indonesia

Simposium Nasional dan Kongres X
Jakarta, 12 14 November 2008

Makalah Profesional

IATMI 08 012

Tunu Field Network Optimization

By Zulfah
TOTAL E&P INDONESIE

Abstract Pigging optimization

Tunu gas field located in Mahakam Delta area has
been expanded from first development phase consisted
of two GTSs (Gathering and Testing Satellite) in high
pressure mode (HP) into current 29 GTSs with total 49
trunklines and cumulative distance nearly 340 km. This
giant field is still being developed as now it is operating
in medium pressure mode (MP) towards low pressure
mode (LP). It is produced by dividing production area
into Tunu South and North in which each area has its
own compression platform. In Tunu North, MP well
effluent is delivered from 12 GTSs to NPU (North
Processing Unit) via 20 and 24 trunklines while in Tunu
South, effluent was delivered from 17 GTSs to CPU
(Central Processing Unit) via 30 and 36 trunklines.
However, since February 2008, 30 trunkline is being
used for new producing field Sisi Nubi which operates in
HP mode so that Tunu South GTS effluent is delivered
by single 36 pipeline.
Intensive development in Tunu network and change
in well behavior as a consequence of more mature field
have demanded strategies to answer challenges of
maintaining and increasing production of the field
including current HP gas produced from Sisi Nubi.
Efforts to answer these challenges are but not limited to:
Network optimization
Complicated pipeline network is optimized by
leaving no idle line on the network. A balance line
connecting Tunu South and North allows optimum
production from both areas by routing several GTS
production in South to North via 20 and 24 jumper
line. Another strategy is to route high pressure Sisi
Nubi gas to North so that South production can be
maximized into 30 and 36 pipeline.
Planning optimization
Compressor planned maintenance is scheduled so
that other jobs such as pigging are being performed
in hidden time to minimize shortfall. Compressor
shut down leads to problem in potential recovery of
the wells, especially those categorized as very
sensitive and super very sensitive wells. Therefore,
any unplanned compressor major shut down is
being recorded and analyzed. Several
recommendations coming from root cause
investigation are followed up and monitored in their
applications in order to avoid any shut down
occurred by same or similar causes.
Introduction
Since discovery, giant Tunu gas field has evolved
production in high pressure (HP) mode. First three
phases focused on development of Tunu South area,
followed by Tunu North development started on fourth
phase. Gas is produced through wellhead platforms
which connected to Gathering and Testing Satellites
(GTS) and delivered to treatment facilities. Currently,
there are 29 GTSs spread throughout the field with
nearly 340 km cumulative distance of 49 trunklines, a
significant development from initially two GTSs. (Figure
1)
Following reservoir depletion, compression facilities
are installed on both areas to allow production of
depleted wells in medium pressure (MP) mode. In Tunu
South, well effluent of all 17 GTSs is collected in two
manifold platforms before delivered through 30 and 36
trunklines to TCP (Tunu Compression Platform) located
in CPU (Central Processing Unit). Meanwhile, Tunu
North well effluent from 12 GTSs is delivered to NCP

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 Ikatan Ahli Teknik Perminyakan Indonesia
(North Compression Platform) located in NPU (North
Processing Unit) through 20 and 24 trunklines. Treated
gas from both sites is exported through 32 pipeline to
TRF (Terminal Receiving Facilities) in Badak.
Condensate from both sites is delivered to CSU
(Condensate Stabilization Unit) in Senipah for treatment
before exported.
Complexity of Tunu increases following new gas
fields Sisi Nubi is put on production in HP mode since
February 2008. Effluent from this field is delivered to
treatment facility located in CPU by using 30 trunkline,
leaving only 36 trunkline to accommodate Tunu South
well effluent. Sisi Nubi gas is then exported through 20
CPU-Nilam pipeline.
Development phases of Tunu are still on going, as
now it is operating in MP mode towards low pressure
(LP) mode. Several projects consisting installation of LP
compression platforms in both areas, as well as
extension of several GTSs is in progress. Long term
projects are also under study to maintain production to
adapt with well behavior changes as consequence of
more mature field. This intensive development demands
strategies to answer challenges how to maintain and
increase production from Tunu as the network become
more complex due to above projects.
Network Optimization
In order to optimize pipeline operations, efforts have
been made to leave no pipeline in idle condition.
Strategy to route GTSs production is implemented,
especially in Tunu South where the network complexity
is the most and only single 36 pipeline remains to
accommodate current production of around 800 MMScfd
of gas. By routing GTS production to optimum
configuration, it is expected that wells suffer minimum
backpressure.
A balance line connecting South and North is
installed to allow optimum production from both areas.
Currently, during normal operation, production from
several GTSs in South is routed to North via 20 and 24
pipeline of GTS-J, an interconnecting GTS. This is also
aimed to maximize South production while there is
available capacity in North to handle stream from South.
In case of any compressor shutdown occurs in one of
the area, production stream is maximized to another via
this production flexibility from both areas.
Another strategy still under study to maximize
production from Tunu field is by routing Sisi Nubi HP gas
to North so that South effluent is accommodated through
30 and 36 pipelines. However, this option will end up
production flexibility of South-North.
IATMI 08-012
Pigging Optimization
Complexity of Tunu Network is also a challenge to
implement proper pigging strategy of the pipelines.
Several critical pipelines have to be carefully handled
during pigging operation due to potential high slug
formation. Severe liquid slugging may lead to
compressor shut down due to high level in slug catcher
at compression area. Therefore, pigging strategy and
guidelines are implemented to avoid slugging and also
minimize gas shortfall.
Planning Optimization
Increasing number of sensitive, very sensitive, and
super very sensitive wells indicate more mature
reservoir. Potential of these wells is difficult to recover
after any shut down. Therefore, to minimize shut down
impact to the wells, any works that require well shut
down have to be carefully planned and optimized.
Compressor planned maintenance is scheduled so
that any other jobs requiring wells shut down is
performed in hidden time in order to take opportunity of
compressor shut down. Several activities such as
pigging and vessel inspection are carried out during
compressor shut down period. This strategy allows
production shortfall optimization by minimizing shut
down frequency of wells.
Apart from planned shut down, unplanned
compressor shut down is also occurred because of
process and safety reason. This unplanned shutdown
also forces wells to be shut in for certain period of time
and at the end potential recovery problem is also being
faced. To avoid occurrences of unplanned major shut
down, strategy to record and analyze each case is
applied. Root cause investigation is carried out to
determine source of the problem and recommended
actions to be taken as curative and preventive means.
Recommended actions follow up and implementation is
monitored every month to avoid shut down by same or
similar causes will reoccur in the future.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Bapak Ashif Hadad, head of Tatun and Sisi
Nubi Production Method TOTAL E&P INDONESIE of his
advice and support.
Reference
TOTAL E&P INDONESIE, Tambora, Tunu, Sisi Nubi
Fields Operating Manual Rev.0
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Figure 1. Tunu Field Layout

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