Offshore staff
LONDON – Independent Oil and Gas (IOG) has issued a progress report on its gas hub development project in the UK southern North Sea.
Last year, an in-line inspection (ILI) was conducted on the 60-km (37-mi) Thames Pipeline which will export the gas from multiple fields to the Bacton terminal on the Norfolk coast.
The pipeline, with a wall thickness of predominantly 15.88 mm, is concrete coated and trenched. It was decommissioned by the previous operator in 2015 and is at present filled with inhibited seawater.
Baker Hughes’ analysis of the ILI results found that all identified internal metal loss features in the pipeline are tolerable at the planned maximum allowable operating pressure of 129 bar (1,871 psi).
Work continues to refine this analysis, assess mean rates of future internal corrosion, and to determine required corrosion protection measures to ensure a 15-year minimum operating lifespan for the pipeline.
IOG plans a further ILI two years after the pipeline resumes service.
At HSM’s yard in Schiedam, the Netherlands, fabrication is nearing completion of the Southwark and Blythe platforms and these are on track for installation in 2Q.
The jackup Noble Hans Deul is preparing to start drilling the five Phase 1 development wells (one at Blythe, one at Elgood, three at Southwark), with options for up to two further wells.
Petrofac is the Phase 1 well operator.
03/19/2021
