Publications

The Total Group is an integrated multinational energy company, with businesses in Upstream, Downstream, and Chemicals. Total E&P Indonésie (TEPI) has been operating in Indonesia for 45 years and is currently the largest gas producer in Indonesia. Bekapai is a mature offshore field which has been operated by TEPI since 1974. Oil and gas production from the Bekapai Field is transported to Senipah Terminal using a 12”, 42 km pipeline. This multiphase pipeline transports oil and gas with approximately 7,000 scf/bbl gas oil ratio (GOR). The pipeline is a bottleneck for the current oil and gas transport (from Bekapai to Senipah) especially since the redevelopment phase of Bekapai Field which is intended to increase the Bekapai gas production. Drag Reducing Agent (DRA) works as a result of the interaction between the polymer molecules and the turbulence of the flowing fluid. The polymers dissolves in the fluid and elongate to form long "strings" which orientate themselves in the direction of flow and absorb energy in the streak, like a shock absorber, thereby reducing subsequent turbulent bursts. The energy dissipation by turbulent eddy currents near the pipe wall during turbulent flow is suppressed, and consequently drag is reduced. From TEPI’s engineering simulation, DRA injection could potentially increase production by up to 20% for gas (with constant oil production) or up to 50% for oil production (with constant gas production). DRA is injected from the Bekapai Production Platform (BPP) downstream of the export pumps to decrease the export pressure. Prior to DRA injection, the average oil and gas production flow rate was 6,500 BOPD and 45 MMSCFD with export pressure of 36 Bar. With DRA injection, peak oil and gas production was recorded to be 9,800 BOPD and 47 MMSCFD with 100 ppm dosage rate during the 26 Mar – 2 Apr 2013 period. The average potential commercial gain from DRA injection, prior to the April – June 2013 Bekapai planned shutdown was above US$ 150,000 per day.