Karen Boman, ODS-Petrodata
The global surge in energy demand, with accompanying offshore technology development, continues to support operators’ challenging field development schemes worldwide.
Results from ODS-Petrodata’s 2007 global field development survey indicate that operators have the following projects either recently installed, under construction, or in the planning phase:
- 533 fixed platforms
- 144 floating production systems
- 2,053 subsea trees associated with 311 projects.
Fixed platforms
The US Gulf of Mexico remains the focus of global fixed platform activity, with 37 platforms installed so far this year. Mexico and Southeast Asia round out the top three with 12 and 11 fixed platforms installed in the respective regions.
Pemex has a number of platforms planned for installation in 2008 and 2009 offshore Mexico, with several earmarked for the Bay of Campeche. Pemex E&P has awarded ICA Fluor subsidiary Industrias del Hierro a contract to design and construct two lightweight offshore platforms for installation at Yaxche-B and KAB-A in the Mexican sector of the GoM. The work scope includes engineering, procurement, construction, load out, and seabed fastening of the platforms. Yaxche-B is expected to be completed by April 2008, and KAB-A by May 2008.
Southeast Asia continues to grow in terms of fixed platform installation. Shell has awarded Technip a contract to provide engineering and installation of offshore infrastructure for the Shell-operated Cili Padi gas development off Malaysia. The work scope will include conceptual and detailed design engineering for the topsides, substructure, and bridges for two new riser platforms, modification of the F23 platform, a new 80-mi (129-km) in-field pipeline, a second pipeline, and a subsea T-piece, for the tie-in of the Selasih field. The project is expected to be complete in 2Q 2008.
Floating production
Brazil’s Petrobras will pioneer the first FPSO project in the US Gulf after signing a contract with BW Offshore for the conversion of an FPSO vessel for the deepwater Chinook and Cascade fields.
Worldwide floating production projects by production start 2003-2009+
Source: ODS-Petrodata.
The FPSO will be installed in 1Q 2010 in a water depth of 8,530 ft (2,600 m), which will be the deepest water depth in which an FPSO has been installed worldwide. The FPSO will have storage capacity for about 600,000 bbl of oil, process capacity for 80,000 b/d of oil, and gas export facilities for 16 MMcf/d. Production from Chinook and Cascade will begin in 1Q 2010.
The Brazilian market remains active for FPSOs and FSOs.
The hull of the FPSOP-53 was berthed to the QUIP’s Quay in the Port of Rio Grande, Brazil, on Sept. 20, 2007. The hull, formerly oil tanker Settebello, was converted at Keppel Shipyard.
When completed,P-53 will be capable of producing 180,000 b/d of oil and about 21 MMcf/d of natural gas. The FPSO will be installed on the Marlim Leste field in the Campos basin offshore Rio de Janeiro in a water depth of 3,543 ft (1,080 m).
In West Africa, BP plans an FPSO hub for block 18 offshore Angola in 5,249 ft (1,600 m) of water to produce multiple fields in the area. The FPSO is scheduled for delivery in August 2010.
Meanwhile, Southeast Asia is emerging as a focus of deepwater development, with FPSOs and FSOs being used at an increasing rate. Shell plans to use a Na Kika-type semi to produce its Gumusut field and Murphy Oil Corp.’s Kakap field in 3,641 ft (1,110 m) of water. Construction is under way on the floating production and storage semi, which is scheduled for delivery in December 2010. The unit will have production capacity for 150,000 b/d of oil.
Reliance Petroleum will use the FPSOAker Smart I to produce oil and gas from its MA-D6 field offshore Singapore in 4,265 ft (1,300 m) of water. The FPSO is being converted at Jurong Shipyard in Singagpore. The 211,061-dwt FPSO will have oil production capacity for 60,000 b/d and gas production for 1.3 MMcf/d. Delivery is scheduled for February 2008.
Subsea installations
West Africa currently dominates in terms of the number of subsea projects planned and under construction, with around 860 subsea trees. Offshore Angola, 478 subsea trees are planned for installation or undergoing installation this year. Meanwhile, operators plan to install or have installed 260 subsea trees offshore Nigeria.
BP plans to install eight subsea trees each at the Marte, Plutao, Saturno, and Venus fields in the northeast corner of block 31 off Angola, which will be tied back to an FPSO in the area. Water depth at the fields range from just over 5,900 ft (1,798 m) to more than 6,600 ft (2,012 m). Detailed engineering on field development is under way.
BP also plans to develop the southeast area of block 31 with subsea trees tied back to two FPSO units. The company will install 12 trees at the Palas field in 6,562 ft (2,000 m) of water as part of the development.
Northwest Europe remains an active region for subsea installation work, with 188 trees planned for installation or being installed offshore Norway and 131 trees offshore UK.
Offshore Norway, BP plans to install 20 subsea trees in 2010 that will be tied back to the FPSOSkarv on block 6507/5 in 1,072 ft (327 m) of water. The development includes one four-slot and one eight-slot template. First production is expected in mid-2011.
Offshore Australia, Chevron plans to install 28 subsea trees on the Gorgon field in the Carnarvon basin in 2009, which will be tied back to an LNG facility on Barrow Island. The Australian government recently gave final environmental approval to Chevron to develop the field.
