Trendsetter Engineering Inc., Houston, said it has deployed a high-integrity pressure protection system (HIPPS) and associated subsea production system for Beacon Offshore Energy's Zephyrus field in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
A HIPPS is a safety system that protects downstream equipment from overpressure by shutting in flow before pressure exceeds design limits, eliminating the need for higher-rated equipment and reducing project costs.
Trendsetter's HIPPS module enables subsea tie-ins to existing flowlines, creating a subsea hub that allows independent lease exploration opportunities. By connecting to existing infrastructure, operators can bring new wells online without building new dedicated production facilities.
The solution combines Trendsetter's HIPPS module with Proserv's SIL 3-rated subsea control system, delivering a localized safety function that automatically shuts in the well in the event of a pressure excursion. This enables operators to manage differing pressure regimes while protecting existing assets.
The system allows Beacon Offshore to leverage existing flowlines, risers, and topside facilities for connection to the host facility.
The Zephyrus field is located in Mississippi Canyon Block 759, about 130 miles southeast of New Orleans, in water depths ranging from 3,100' to 3,600'. The field has been producing since December as a nine-mile tieback to existing West Boreas subsea infrastructure operated by Shell Offshore Inc., with production processed at the Shell-operated Olympus platform in the Mars Corridor.
Partners in the development include Houston Energy, HEQ II, Red Willow Offshore, Westlawn Americas Offshore, and Murphy Exploration & Production.
Proserv provided the HIPPS control system, and ATV supplied the HIPPS shutdown valves for the project.
Trendsetter Engineering said it has deployed four HIPPS systems in the Gulf of Mexico in the last three years.
