Pyrenees project see first oil ahead of schedule

March 2, 2010
First oil production has begun ahead of schedule from the BHP Billiton-operated Pyrenees project, offshore Western Australia.

Offshore staff

MELBOURNE, Australia -- First oil production has begun ahead of schedule from the BHP Billiton-operated Pyrenees project, offshore Western Australia. The project involves 13 subsea wells and an FPSO with production capacity of approximately 96,000 b/d of oil and gas reinjection capacity of 60 MMcf/d.

Development includes the Crosby, Ravensworth, and Stickle oil fields in water depths ranging from 169 m (555 ft) to 250 m (820 ft.) The company drilled horizontal wells from the sea floor and that are now tied back to the Pyrenees FPSO via a gathering system. Water injection is incorporated to enhance oil recovery.

The FPSO Pyrenees is a double-hulled vessel with a disconnectable turret mooring system. Gas produced by the development will be reinjected into the reservoir of the nearby Macedon gas field for future recovery.

03/02/2010