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Oil and gas production handbook An introduction to oil ... - ABB Group

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2 Facilities <strong>and</strong> processes<br />

The <strong>oil</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>gas</strong> industry facilities <strong>and</strong> systems are broadly defined,<br />

according <strong>to</strong> their use in the <strong>oil</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>gas</strong> industry <strong>production</strong> stream:<br />

Exploration<br />

Upstream<br />

Midstream<br />

Refining<br />

Includes prospecting, seismic <strong>and</strong> drilling activities that take<br />

place before the development of a field is finally decided.<br />

Typically refers <strong>to</strong> all facilities for <strong>production</strong> <strong>and</strong> stabilization<br />

of <strong>oil</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>gas</strong>. The reservoir <strong>and</strong> drilling community often<br />

uses upstream for the wellhead, well, completion <strong>and</strong><br />

reservoir only, <strong>and</strong> downstream of the wellhead as<br />

<strong>production</strong> or processing. Exploration <strong>and</strong><br />

upstream/<strong>production</strong> <strong>to</strong>gether is referred <strong>to</strong> as E&P.<br />

Broadly defined as <strong>gas</strong> treatment, LNG <strong>production</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

re<strong>gas</strong>ification plants, <strong>and</strong> <strong>oil</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>gas</strong> pipeline systems.<br />

Where <strong>oil</strong> <strong>and</strong> condensates are processed in<strong>to</strong> marketable<br />

products with defined specifications such as <strong>gas</strong>oline, diesel<br />

or feeds<strong>to</strong>ck for the petrochemical industry. Refinery offsites<br />

such as tank s<strong>to</strong>rage <strong>and</strong> distribution terminals are included<br />

in this segment, or may be part of a separate distributions<br />

operation.<br />

Petrochemical These products are chemical products where the main<br />

feeds<strong>to</strong>ck is hydrocarbons. Examples are plastics, fertilizer<br />

<strong>and</strong> a wide range of industrial chemicals.<br />

2.1 Exploration<br />

In the past, surface features<br />

such as tar seeps or <strong>gas</strong><br />

pockmarks provided initial<br />

clues <strong>to</strong> the location of<br />

shallow hydrocarbon<br />

deposits. Today, a series of<br />

surveys, starting with broad<br />

geological mapping through<br />

increasingly advanced<br />

methods such as passive<br />

seismic, reflective seismic,<br />

magnetic <strong>and</strong> gravity surveys give data <strong>to</strong> sophisticated analysis <strong>to</strong>ols that<br />

identify potential hydrocarbon bearing rock as “prospects.” Chart: Norwegian<br />

Petroleum Direc<strong>to</strong>rate (Barents Sea)<br />

4

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