Shell Makes Reservoir Breakthrough with Wellhead 'USB Port'


Cameron reported recently that Shell UK Limited in June 2008 successfully installed the first of three Cameron subsea MARS (Multiple Application Re-injection System) interfaces on its Bittern field in the North Sea. The system has been described as a "USB port for wellheads" and is being adopted by Shell as part of their extended oil recovery (EOR) strategy for the region.

Following the successful commissioning, Shell is now able to complete reservoir stimulation / scale squeeze operations from a ROV support vessel without the need for MODU or diving support. The patented MARS system is a Cameron technology, supplied by DES Operations of Aberdeen.

Ian Donald, Managing Director of DES said, "Until now operators have been using MARS for multiphase pumping and metering operations but this is a world first for reservoir stimulation. For Shell. MARS offers safer, faster and cheaper operations, with options to extend the functionality for further subsea processing operations."

The remaining two MARS systems are due for installation later this year and when installed will enable Shell to undertake multiple well stimulation campaigns from a single ROV vessel.

John Anthony, Shell Project Manager, said, "We approached DES two years ago to see if their technology could be adapted for our scale squeeze operations, and have worked with DES since then to this successful conclusion."

In addition to use in the Bittern field, MARS has also been successfully used by BP King in the Gulf of Mexico and has been selected by Total for use in subsea multiphase metering in West Africa. The MARS technology has also been the recipient of industry awards from American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Subsea UK, and others.

MARS is part of Cameron's CAMFORCE Subsea Processing System, which includes multiphase boosting, separation and other enabling technologies for the emerging subsea processing market.

Cameron is a leading provider of flow equipment products, systems and services to worldwide oil, gas and process industries.

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