Offshore staff
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan – Dragon Oil says results from a water injection study offshore Turkmenistan could improve well performance on its Cheleken Contract Area fields.
The study involved use of a dynamic simulation model for the Dzheitune (Lam) 75 area, and was followed by an injectivity test last June 2011. The outcome was encouraging and should lead to implementation of a pilot water injection project this year.
Currently the company is procuring equipment for the pilot plant, with potential implementation on a wider scale in 2015.
The company has also initiated a project to install equipment to provide permanent downhole pressure monitoring. The first permanent pressure gauge should be installed during the second half of this year.
Dragon’s new Dzheitune (Lam) block-1 gathering platform has been commissioned following re-connection of offshore pipelines. Last year the company also replaced the old Dzeitune (Lam) block-2 gathering platform with a new block-2 installation, which should be commissioned shortly.
These replacements for the old gathering stations should help increase the throughput capacity of the Dzheitune (Lam) West area.
Completion of the block-4 gathering platform and installation of associated pipelines should happen in the second half of 2012. This will serve as a gathering station for production from new wellhead and production platforms on the Dzhygalybeg (Zhdanov) field.
As part of an ongoing program to replace old infrastructure and remove bottlenecks from the system, Dragon installed new subsea pipelines between various production and gathering platforms and installed pigging systems for three subsea pipelines.
Last year it issued EPIC contracts for subsea pipelines between the Dzheitune (Lam) B platform and block 1 and between block 1 and 2. Work has started and the lines should be installed during 2H 2012.
Over the next four years, the company aims to install at least four wellhead and production platforms in the Dzheitune (Lam) field. As for the Dzhygalybeg (Zhdanov) field, completion of the Dzhygalybeg (Zhdanov) A and B platforms should occur during 2H 2012 and 1H 2013 respectively.
The Dzhygalybeg (Zhdanov) platforms will have 16 slots and accommodation facilities, and their design allows deployment of either a platform-based or a jackup rig.
Tendering is under way for a contractor to build the Dzheitune (Lam) D and E platforms and associated in-field lines. The contract will include the development of a fabrication yard in the harbor area near Dragon’s operations. Following contract awards, it should take two years to build and install the platforms.
Last year the company conducted geophysical and geotechnical investigations to assess locations for 10 further platforms on the Dzheitune (Lam) and Dzhygalybeg (Zhdanov) fields. Currently it is evaluating more than 20 sites for platforms and gathering stations.
Dragon has begunplugging, abandonment and decommissioning activities in the Cheleken Contract Area after identifying groups of wells based on their status and age. It has commissioned a specialist contractor to deal with the old shut-in wells.
Up to 15 such wells could be plugged from this spring onwards. Additionally, Dragon plans to appoint a contractor to start dismantling old non-producing platforms on the Dzheitune (Lam) and Dzhygalybeg (Zhdanov) fields. The cost of this work would be covered from abandonment and decommissioning funds.
2/21/2012
