Abstract
The nature characteristic of the gas field in the Gulf of Thailand is having high CO2 and Mercury (Hg) content which pose significant operational challenges. Hg content ranges from 50 ppb to as high as 20,000 ppb, averagely at 3,000 ppb. More than half of those wells are required to be shut down under new sales condensate agreement which limit Hg content at 3000 ppb, resulting in a significant loss of opportunity in production. Since the production facility is already existed, it is challenging to maintain production and extend the field life by unlocking opportunities from those high Hg wells.
This paper will describe how to cope with Hg challenges to unlock potential from the field. Specifically, the short term and long term Hg handling and management plan, the operational challenges facing along the way and innovative yet simple solutions will be presented. With the successful Hg management project, the production from high Hg well is resumed. The long term solution by physical filtration method has achieved more than 80% of Hg removal efficiency. Hg filter operation together with the well integrated Hg management plan is the key to unlock field potential from high Hg wells.
