SURF (Subsea Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines); a New Method for the Production and Exploration of Oil & Gas

SURF (subsea umbilicals, risers, and flowlines) offers a connection between subsea production and surface systems. Umbilicals provide an important link between the surface, the processing system, and the sub-production system, and have no contact with the liquids produced. Whereas flowline helps move the unprocessed fluid to the riser from the subsea. The riser then transports the fluids to the surface processing system. Subsea flowlines are the subsea pipelines used to connect a subsea wellhead with a manifold or the surface facility.

SURF (subsea umbilicals, risers, and flowlines) are widely used in the oil & gas industry. SURF refers to the connection used between the subsea equipment/platforms or floating production units and to enable control from the surface. Umbilicals link seafloor and surface equipment for heat, power, or control. They provide electrical power, fiber-optic and electric signals, and hydraulic and chemical injection fluids to the subsea unit. A riser is a conduit that provides a temporary extension of a subsea oil well to a surface drilling facility.

The flowline is a special pipeline with its length limited to the oil field area. Flowline is also called the production line or import line in some cases and is separate from the pipeline system. Flowlines carry unprocessed crude oil whereas pipelines carry partially/fully processed fluids. Deepwater installations are prone to various chemical and physical conditions such as asphalt deposition and hydrate formation that compromise the economic output of the project. SURF (subsea umbilicals, risers, and flowlines) helps avoid this problem by forming vital links.

The U.S. is one of the leading oil and gas producing countries in the world. The monthly U.S. oil production reached 12.86 million barrels per day in November 2019, the highest monthly level of crude oil production in U.S. history. Thus, with the increasing demand for oil and gas and increasing production & exploration activities in deep water, the demand for SURF (subsea umbilicals, risers, and flowlines) is also increasing at a rapid pace.