Satellite Wells, Templates and Manifolds

Various types of subsea production systems are being used and their versatility and practicality is being demonstrated in both major and marginal fields throughout the world. 

The most basic subsea satellite is a single Subsea Wellhead with Subsea Tree, connected to a production facility by a series of pipelines and umbilicals. A control module, usually situated on the subsea tree, allows the production platform to remotely operate the subsea facility (i.e. valves, chokes). 

These single satellites are commonly used to develop small reservoirs near to a large field. They are also used to provide additional production from, or peripheral water injection support to, a field which could not adequately be covered by drilling extended reach wells from the platform. 

An exploration or appraisal well, if successful, can be converted to a subsea producer if hydrocarbons are discovered. In this case the initial well design would have to allow for any proposed conversion. 

The Subsea Production Template is generally recommended for use with six or more wells. It is commonly used when an operator has a firm idea of the number of wells that 

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