ABSTRACT
With the advent of technological advancement, more effort is being made to explore and produce oil and gas from offshore reservoirs. Various production platforms are deployed, which are often linked to multiple wellheads. Different auxiliary support systems, such as risers, tie-ins, manifold, and associated flowlines, are hooked up with the platform to support seamless function. However, due to extreme conditions in the offshore environment, these platforms are susceptible to structural instabilities. Compensation and positioning systems are incorporated to overcome forces acting on the structure in deep water. Furthermore, temperature and salinity profiles and other physical offshore properties are responsible for the quality of the crude oil produced, which affects the efficacy of separation processes. In addition, offshore crude oil and gas separation processes are an integral part of the offshore production system. However, offshore oil and gas reservoirs are more prone to severe flow assurance issues due to the harsh environment. The knowledge of offshore production systems and details in the deepwater environment are necessary when developing efficient flow assurance mitigation methods for offshore oilfields. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the offshore environment, production platforms, and support equipment for separating and processing oil and gas produced from offshore reservoirs.
