Flow assurance:: A π3 discipline

Flow assurance is production operation that generates a reliable, manageable, and profitable flow of fluids from the reservoir to the sales point. Flow assurance is critical for economical production in deep water. The significant access limits to seafloor infrastructure in deep water (>1,200-ft. water depth) transform operational problems in shallow-water production into economic and life-limiting events for deepwater assets. Flow assurance requires a simple success strategy defined by component proficiency, integration, implementation, and improvement, termed here as PI3 or pi(3).