Republic of the Philippines

BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Engineering, Architecture, and Fine Arts
Petroleum Engineering Department

OFFSHORE FIELDS AND PRODUCTION FACILITIES

Production Technology PetE 457

Neil Bryan R. Closa

PetE-4201

Engr. Marvin A. Atienza

January 21, 2015

Heimdal, Norway (Fixed Platform)

The Heimdal gas field is located in the Norwegian sector of the central North Sea. Water depth in
the area is almost 400 feet. The field has been developed with an integrated drilling, production and
accommodation facility with a steel jacket (HMP1). A PDO for Heimdal Gas Centre (HGS) was approved
in January 1999. This included a new riser facility (HRP), connected by a bridge to HMP1. Heimdal is now
mainly a processing centre for other fields. Atla, Huldra, Skirne and Vale deliver gas to Heimdal. The field
has been recovered by pressure depletion. Heimdal will continue to produce small amounts of gas until
2014.
The subsea facilities at Total's Atla gas condensate field are now on stream. Atla was developed
subsea with a tieback to existing infrastructure between the Skirne development and Heimdal production
platform. In 2013 the field is expected to flow gas at an average rate of 14,000 boed and condensate at
2,500 bcpd. The fast-track project was brought on line within the planned schedule and budget two years
after completion of exploration drilling. The field is located in production license 102C and sits in 390 feet
of water.
The 1.4 billion cubic meter-Atla gas and condensate field is expected to be brought on line in the
first half of October according to Total, the field operator. Atla will be utilized via a subsea template tied
back to an existing pipeline between the Skirne subsea facilities and the Heimdal Gas Center. The
original exploration well was drilled into the Brent formation and is now being re-used as a production
well.

Murchison, Norway (Fixed Platform)

The Murchison field is located in the Northern North Sea Block 211/19, north of Aberdeen in the
East Shetland Basin, straddling the United Kingdom/Norwegian sector median line. The Murchison
platform is a conventional steel jacket with a 33 well slot capacity.
Production operations at the Murchison development in the UK North Sea have been
permanently terminated by field operator CNR International. The field, discovered in 1975 was boasted as
one of the largest production platforms on the UK continental shelf and, at peak production, was
responsible for supplying 150,383 bopd. It's estimated that about 400 million barrels of oil have been
produced from the field's 98 development wells with an impressive recovery rate of over 50%. CNR took
over operatorship in 2002 and extended the commercial life of the field by 10 years. Now, the company
will move forward with an innovative decommissioning program that will see the infrastructure at
Murchison completely removed by 2019.

Sangu, Bangladesh (Fixed Platform)

Considered the first offshore gas field development in Bangladesh, the Sangu field is located in
Block 16 in the Bay of Bengal about 28 miles (45 kilometers) southwest of Chittagong. Santos operates
the block with a 75 percent interest. Halliburton holds the remaining stake. Discovered in 1996, the field
was brought on stream in 1998. The field is currently in production with nine development wells tied-back
to the Sangu-A platform. Estimated to hold contingent reserves of 30 Bcf, the Sangu field is currently in
decline. In order to extend the life of the field, the operator set out to drill on infill development well from
the Sangu platform, Sangu-11, and one appraisal well over NE Sangu. In 2012, the operator found a new
gas reservoir through well Sangu-11 in the Sangu area with about 66 feet (20 meters) of good-quality gas

pay. The well will be completed and tied into the Sangu facilities. The South Sangu field, discovered in
2000, is located about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) southeast of the Sangu-A platform. There are currently
three wells on the field, which has a contingent resource of 51 Bcf. Due to a steady decline in gas
production throughout 2013 the decision was made to halt operations at Sangu. As part of the Production
Sharing contract the field facilities will be handed over to Petrobangla.
Santos has found a new gas reservoir through well Sangu-11 in the Sangu area with about 66
feet (20 meters) of good-quality gas pay. The well will be completed and tied into the Sangu facilities. The
operator is continuing to assess the volumes and flow potential of the reservoir. After completing Sangu11, the Seadrill jackup Offshore Resolute (350 ILC) will be demobilized. Sangu-11 was the final well in a
three-well drilling campaign in Block 16 PSC that commenced in September 2011. The first well, South
Sangu-4, found gas in one target but was unable to add further reserves due to encountering
anomalously high formation pressure, and had to be abandoned prior to reaching its primary objective.
The second well, NE Sangu-1 drilled in December 2011, failed to encounter commercial hydrocarbons
and was also abandoned

Kizomba, Block 15, Angola (FPSO)

Situated roughly 90 miles (145 kilometers) off the coast of Angola is Block 15, featuring the
Kizomba project, spanning 988,422 acres (4,000 square kilometers). It is estimated the block contains
more than 3.5 billion barrels of recoverable reserves, and cumulative production of the block has
surpassed one billion barrels.
ExxonMobil was awarded operatorship of Block 15 in 1994 and the first discovery was made in
1998. As operator, ExxonMobil holds a 40% interest in the block; Eni holds 20%; BP holds 26.67%; and
Statoil holds the remaining 13.33%.
The development of Block 15 was divided into three phases; Phases A and B commenced
production in August 2004 and July 2005, respectively. Phase C, Phase I started production in January
2008, and Phase C, Phase II came online in July 2008.
In December 2003, Esso's Xikomba field became the first of three fields to come on stream in offshore
Angola Block 15, about 230 miles (370 kilometers) northwest of Angola's capitol Luanda. The field was
discovered in 1999 in a water depth of 4,856 feet (1,480 meters). Xikomba holds an estimated 100 million
barrels
of
recoverable
reserves
with
crude
production
rates
of
80,000
bopd.
Along with the operator Esso, holding a 40% interest, other participants in Block 15 are BP Exploration
with 26.67%, Agip Angola Exploration with 20%, and Statoil with a 13.33% interest.

Xikomba Development
Xikomba uses an Early Production System (EPS) that consists of nine subsea wells (four
production, four water injection and one gas injection), ExxonMobil's third deployment of its EPS
technology offshore West Africa and the first APS offshore Angola. These wells tie-back to the leased
Xikomba
FPSO.
Esso Exploration awarded a development contract to Technip-Coflexip, including procurement, fabrication
and installation of flexible flow lines and risers, connecting them to an FPSO. The contract also included
installations of the umbilicals, rigid jumpers and associated subsea equipment for the field.

Dubai Drydocks of UAE converted the very large crude carrier (VLCC) Mosocean to the Xikomba FPSO
in August 2003. Weighing in at 257,000 tons (233,146 tonnes), the FPSO can store up to 1.8 MMbo and
has a peak daily production rate of 90,000 barrels.
Technip-Coflexip was in charge of the project management, engineering, procurement, transport
and installation of the production lines, water and gas injection lines and Flowline End Terminations
(FET). The CSO Constructor performed the installation campaign during the second half of 2003.
Coming on stream in December 2003, Xikomba is the deepest FPSO ever installed using flexible
risers in West African waters.

Kizomba A
The $3 billion Kizomba A project, holding an estimated 1 billion barrels of oil, consists of the Hungo and
Chocalho fields in water depths of 3,300 to 4,200 feet (1,006 to 1,280 meters). Kizomba A includes the
combination of a surface wellhead platform and subsea production systems tied-back to the Kizomba A
FPSO. By the end of 2008, Kizomba A had 29 production wells and one development well.

Kizomba B
In early 2003, ExxonMobil started construction of the $3 billion Kizomba B project, which is also
expected to recover nearly one billion barrels of oil at a target production rate of 250,000 bopd.
Kizomba B consists of the Kissanje and Dikanza fields, located in water depths of 3,300 to 3,400 feet
(1,006 to 1,036 meters) of water. The project includes the combination of a surface wellhead platform and
subsea wells tied-back to an FPSO vessel. The design for Kizomba B essentially duplicates Kizomba A,
thus reducing costs and cycle time. By the end of 2008, Kizomba B had 22 production wells, commencing
production in July 2005.

Kizomba C
The third phase, Kizomba C, is designed to develop 600 million barrels of oil from the Mondo,
Saxi and Batuque fields in approximately 2,400 feet (732 meters) of water. The Mondo field started
producing oil in January 2008, while the other two fields, Saxi and Batuque, started production in August
2008. The Kizomba C development features two FPSO vessels and 36 subsea wells making it the largest
subsea development worldwide.

Clochas Mavacola
The Clochas Mavacola project developed discovered oil resources of the Clochas and Mavacola
Development Areas in ExxonMobil operated Angola Block 15 via subsea tiebacks to existing production
hubs using 17 subsea wells.
The deep water development concept consisted of installing a subsea production loop to the
existing Kizomba A and B FPSO vessels with corresponding topsides brownfield modifications to allow
the tie-in of new risers to the existing production systems.
The development is located approximately 124 miles (200 kilometers) to the Northwest of Luanda
in deepwater depths between 3,281 and 4,429 feet (1,000 and 1,350 meters). First oil commenced on
July 9, 2012.

Veslefrikk, Norway (Fixed Platform)

One of the first fields to be developed in the North Sea and currently in a decline phase, the
Veslefrikk oil field is located on Block 30/3 in the Norwegian North Sea in a water depth of 607 feet (185
meters). Statoil serves as the operator of the field and holds an 18% interest; Petoro holds a 37% interest;
Talisman Resources Norge holds 27%; RWE Dea Norge holds 13.50% interest; and Revus Energy holds
the remaining 4.50% interest.
Discovered in 1981, the field's reservoir consists of Jurassic sandstones of the Brent and Dunlin
groups of the Statfjord formation, located 9,186 to 10,499 feet (2,800 to 3,200 meters) below sea level. It
is estimated that Veslefrikk contains 36.4 million barrels of oil and 141 Bcf.

Field Development
The Veslefrikk field was approved for development in 1987 and came on stream a year later. The
field consists of 14 oil producers, 5 water alternate gas injectors, 4 water injectors, and 1 gas injector tiedback to the Veslfefrikk A fixed platform, with a bridge connection to the Veslefrikk B semisubmersible
facility for processing and accommodation. Oil is sent to the Oseberg field and then transported via
pipeline to the Sture terminal outside Bergen. Gas is sent through the Statpipe system via Karsto north of
Stavanger to Emden in Germany.
Production from the field reached a peak rate in 1990, and according to the original plan of
development and operations, field development was supposed to terminate in 2009. However, Veslefrikk
still contains large amounts of oil and gas. Following an application from Statoil to the Petroleum Safety
Authority Norway, the operator received approval to continue use of the facilities until 2020.
The project, Veslefrikk 2020, was created to evaluate, modify and upgrade the existing facilities to prolong
the life time of the field. Several options have been analyzed, and until a plan is sanctioned, the operator
has decided to drill an exploration well in 2009 to access possible resources that can be tied-back to
Veslefrikk.

Satellite Field
The Huldra gas and condensate field is located on Blocks 30/2 and 30/3, about 10 miles (16
kilometers) from the Veslefrikk field. Statoil serves as the operator and holds 19.88%; Petoro holds
31.95% in the field; Total E&P Norge holds 24.3%; Norske ConocoPhillips holds 23.33%; and Tallisman
holds the remaining .49% interest.
Discovered in 1982, and developed in 1999, the field commenced production on Nov. 21, 2001.
Huldra is tied-back to the Veslefrikk B platform; gas is transported via an 87-mile (140-kilometer) pipeline
to the Heimdal field for processing and then onward to Europe. Condensate is transported to Veslefrikk
for processing and then sent onshore.

Further Exploration
On February 23, 2009, NPD granted Statoil a drilling permit for wellbore 30/3-10s in Production
License 052. The appraisal well, located on the Canon prospect, was drilled using the West Alpha
semisub. Statoil discovered gas, while testing two reservoir levels -- an upper one belonging to the Brent
group and a deeper level in the Statfjord group. The well was plugged and abandoned. If proven
commercially viable, it may be tied-back to Veslefrikk, prolonging the field's life expectancy.

Shelley, UK (FPSO)
Located on Block 22/2 in the UK Central North Sea, roughly 119 miles (192 kilometers) east of
Fraserburgh, Scotland, is the Shelley oil field. Wholly owned and operated by Oilexco, Shelley has
estimated recoverable reserves of 9 MMbo.
In 1984, well 22/2-2, was discovered then plugged for two decades, until it was awarded to
Oilexco in 2005. In October 2007, the Ocean Guardian semisubmersible drilled eight well penetrations
from
a
single
subsea
well
bore
to
appraise
the
Shelley
discovery.
Then, several appraisal wells were drilled to further define the area. The appraisal well 22/2b-13 reached
a true vertical depth of 13,850 feet (4,221 meters). It tested at a rate of 3,082 bopd at more than 31
degrees API, located within sands from the Paleocene Forties age. The well successfully defined a broad
low relief oil-bearing structure. A second appraisal drilling was conducted on well 22/2b-13 to determine
the size of the reservoir, which measures 1,730 acres (7 square kilometers).
The last appraisal well, 22/2b-13t, was tested through 42 feet (13 meters) of perforations representing 18
true vertical feet (5 true vertical meters) of perforated reservoir from the top of 34 vertical feet (10 vertical
meters) of oil pay. The 22/2b-13t appraisal well tested at a flow rate of 3,082 bopd at a 36/64-inch choke.
The
findings
confirmed
the
previous
discovery
from
the
22/2b-13
well.
Field Development
In 2008, the Sedco 712 semisub began Shelley's development drilling. The field consists of three
subsea wells tied-back to a central manifold and a 1-mile (2-kilometer), 8-inch-diameter pipeline
connected to the Sevan Voyager, a cylindrical type Sevan 300 FPSO. A water disposal/injection pipeline
will also be installed from the FPSO to the Shelley drill center. The wells and infrastructure will be
monitored, controlled and operated from the FPSO.
In 2008, Technip was awarded a US $242 million (EUR 190 million) contract for the engineering,
installation and commissioning of pipelines for the Shelley field. The contract covers the control umbilicals
and jumper, the flexible risers, the subsea manifold and an attendant flowline.
Sevan Marine AS built and owns the Sevan Voyageur FPSO. Oilexco operates the leased FPSO for a
fixed-term of five years, with extension options for an additional five years at a contract value of $370
million.
The Sevan Voyageur FPSO is 217 feet (66 meters) long and 197 feet (60 meters) wide, with a
displacement of 55,000 tons (50,000 tonnes). Sevan Voyageur has a production capacity of 35,000 bopd
and 20 MMcf/d (.6 MMcm/d), and a storage capacity of 300,000 barrels of oil. Based on Sevan Marine's
proprietary technology, the cylindrical FPSO can operate more efficiently in harsher climates on small to
large fields because of its flexible design and motion characteristics. The round-shaped vessel has less
hull surface, which reduces the amount of steel needed for construction, but contains the same storage
volume of traditional FPSOs.
Built at the Yantai Raffles Shipyard in China, the Sevan Voyageur was transported to a European
shipyard
for topside hook-up and
commissioning in
the last
quarter of
2007.
In November 2008, the FPSO arrived on the Shelley field to be installed and hooked up to a pre-laid
mooring
system.
Production commenced on Aug. 6, 2009. With a life expectancy of 25 years, Shelley is expected to peak
at 35,000 bopd. Produced oil will be offloaded to shuttle tankers then transported onshore.
The field ceased producing on July 14, 2010 and was decommissioned.

Azurite, Congo (FPSO)

The Pride South Pacific semisub discovered the Azurite field, located on the Mer Profonde Sud
Block, offshore Republic of the Congo. Murphy Oil serves as the operator and has a 50% working
interest; PA Resources AB holds 35% interest; and SNPC holds the remaining 15% interest.
In January 2005, the Azurite Marine No. 1 discovery well was drilled in 4,531 feet (1,381 meters) of water
and found a significant amount of oil pay in multiple reservoirs of Lower Miocene age. An appraisal well,
Azurite Marine No. 2, was drilled in 4,488 feet (1,368 meters) of water and confirmed the previous oil pay
finding. A subsequent flow test from one zone produced 8,000 bopd and 4.63 MMcf/d (131,107 Mcm/d).

The field is located in the prolific Lower Congo Basin and has estimated recoverable reserves of 75
MMboe.
Field Development/Contracts
In January 2007, the Congolese Ministry of State approved the field development plan for Azurite.
The field was developed by subsea wells, six oil producers and three water injectors, tied to a Floating,
Drilling,
Producing,
Storage
and
Offloading
(FDPSO)
vessel.
FMC Technologies received an $80 million contract to supply the subsea systems for the Azurite project.
The contract included 10 vertical subsea trees, related slimbore wellheads, control systems, and one 10slot manifold.
In a $110 million contract, Technip won the engineering, procurement, fabrication, testing,
installation and pre-commissioning of two production and one water-injection flexible risers, two
production jumpers, and one umbilical. The company also supplied 10 well jumpers and provide
transportation,
installation
and
pre-commissioning
for
the
subsea
equipment.
In 2007, Prosafe was awarded a $400 million contract for the conversion and operation of the Azurite
FDPSO unit to be placed on the Azurite field. This is the first time a mobile drilling rig will be converted
into an FPSO for field development. After conversion, the vessel will have a storage capacity of 1.4 MMbo
and a process capacity of 40,000 bopd. The FDPSO is spread-moored at a water depth of 4,594 feet
(1,400 meters).
Production
Azurite came on-stream on Aug. 10, 2009 and is expected to reach a peak production of 40,000 bopd.

Yttergryta, Norway (Semi-Submersible)

Located on Production License 062 and Block 6507/11 in the Haltenbanken area of the
Norwegian Sea, the Yttergryta gas and condensate field holds approximately 11 MMboe in recoverable
reserves. Discovered in 2007, the field was developed as a fast-track subsea tie-back to nearby existing
infrastructure.
In July 2007, Wildcat Exploration Well 6507/11-8 proved gas in sandstones of the Jurassic age. Drilled by
the Stena Don semisubmersible at a water depth of 974 feet (297 meters), the well was temporarily
plugged to be used as the field's future development well.
The operator, StatoilHydro holds 45.75% interest in Yttergryta. Partners on the project include
Total with 24.5%, Petoro with 19.95% and Eni with 9.8%.

Field Development
Situated only 3 miles (5 kilometers) northwest of the Midgard portion of the Asgard field,
Yttergryta field development incorporates nearby existing infrastructure. Submitted to authorities in

January 2008 and approved in May 2008, the Yttergryta development includes one subsea production
well and a 3-mile-long (5-kilometer-long) subsea pipeline tied the Midgard subsea infrastructure and
ultimately to the Asgard B gas production semisubmersible.
In an effort to bring the field into production as quickly as possible, project partners pre-invested
in the field development, installing the subsea template and making preparations for the subsea pipeline
before the discovery was made on Yttergryta. Including drilling costs, the total development investment
for the field was US $170.5 million (NOK 1.2 billion).
In a 2006 contract, an Acergy/Subsea 7 consortium was awarded the 2007 installation work for the
Yttergryta subsea template. For a consideration of $50 million, FMC Technologies was awarded the
contract to provide the horizontal subsea tree, flow base, PLEM and umbilical. Technip handled the
pipeline installation.

Production
Developed from find to production in 18 months, Yttergryta was brought on-stream four months
early, pumping first gas on January 5, 2009. With a peak production of 123.6 MMcf/d (3.5 MMcm/d),
Yttergryta is expected to produce some 61.45 Bcf (1.74 Bcm) of gas and 4.94 MMcf (.14 MMcm) of
condensate in its three- to five-year production life. With very small carbon dioxide content, gas from
Yttergryta is expected to maintain production flow to the Asgard B platform.