Offshore staff
COPENHAGEN, Denmark – All three platform jackets are in place at the high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) Culzean field in the UK central North Sea, according to operator Maersk Oil.
The location is 233 km (145 mi) east of Aberdeen in 88 m (289 ft) water depth. After coming onstream in 2019, Culzean should deliver 60,000-90,000 boe/d at plateau production and produce for at least 13 years.
“Culzean was sanctioned less than two years ago and already we’ve progressed the project over the halfway mark,” said Gretchen Watkins, CEO ofMaersk Oil.
The Heerema Marine Contractors crane vesselThialfcompleted installation of the central processing facilities (CPF) and utilities and living quarters (ULQ) jackets on July 20, the wellhead platform (WHP) jacket having been installed last year.
All were built by Heerema Fabrication Group in the Netherlands. The combined weight is more than 22,000 metric tons (24,251 tons).
Martin Urquhart, Culzean Project Director, said: “From the design phase we’ve been focused on future proofing the Culzean installation – these jackets have a design life of over 40 years, much higher than a typical jacket so will be comfortably capable of serving the duration of production.
“With the foundation of the Culzean installation firmly in place and waiting, focus is now fixed on finalizing the construction of the three topsides and thefloating, storage and offload vesselAilsa.
“We have just celebrated the completion of the deck stacking of the topsides and the sail away of these structures is on schedule for next year. Their installation will take us to the beginning of the hook up and commissioning campaign, the final step before first gas is delivered in 2019.”
Maersk Oil’s partners are BP (Britoil) and JX Nippon.
Culzean’s reservoir is around 4,300 m (14,107 ft) below sea level; pressure is 13,500 psi (931 bar); and the temperature is 175°C (347°F). Produced gas will be exported via the CATS pipeline, coming onshore at Teesside, northeast England.
07/31/2017
