- Clair oilfield
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Clair oilfield Location of Clair oilfield
Country United Kingdom Region West of Shetland Block(s) 206/7; 206/8; 206/9; 206/12; 206/15 Offshore/onshore offshore Coordinates 60°45′N 2°24′W / 60.75°N 2.4°WCoordinates: 60°45′N 2°24′W / 60.75°N 2.4°W Operator(s) BP Partners BP
ConocoPhillips
Chevron Corporation
Royal Dutch Shell
Amerada HessField history Discovery 1977 Start of development 2001 Start of production 2005 Production Estimated oil in place 5,000 million barrels (~6.8×108 t) Producing formations Devonian to Carboniferous continental sandstone The Clair oilfield is an oil field on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf located 75 kilometres (47 mi) west of Shetland in water depths of up to 140 metres (460 ft). It extends over an area of some 220 square kilometres (85 sq mi), covering five licence blocks.[1]
Contents
History
The Clair reservoir was discovered in 1977, with exploration well #206/8-1a penetrating a 568-metre (1,864 ft) oil column in a thick sequence of Devonian to Carboniferous continental sandstone. In the 1980s ten appraisal wells were drilled. This activity demonstrated that the structure extended to an area of some 400 square kilometres (150 sq mi) with static oil-in-place, although it failed to confirm the presence of economically recoverable reserves. Two further wells were drilled in 1991, two in 1992 and one in 1995. Two of these wells (206/8-8 and 206/8-9z) demonstrated the potential for commercial flow rates but were not produced for long enough to give confidence in long term reservoir deliverability.
In 1996 there was a breakthrough in the drilling and extended well testing (EWT) of well #206/8-10z. The EWT was followed by the side-tracking of an offset well into the pressure sink created by the EWT. The 1996 well test results set the scope for the 1997 drilling programme and triggered interest in a first phase of development. Two further wells were drilled in 1997 to appraise the 'Graben' and '3A' segments to reduce uncertainty in these areas adjacent to the core area.
In May 1997 it was agreed by the Clair partners to jointly develop the field. BP was appointed as the operator and programme coordinator. Development of was approved in 2001. The production facilities were installed in 2004. The first stage of the development was inaugurated on 23 February 2005.[2]
Development
The first phase of development targets the 'Core', 'Graben' and 'Horst' segments of the southern area of the reservoir, which have 1.75 billion barrels (278×106 m3), of which 250 million barrels (40×106 m3) can be recovered.[1][3] The development plan includes drilling of 15 producing wells, eight water injectors and one drill cuttings re-injection well. Plateau production is expected to be 60,000 bbl/d (9,500 m3/d) of oil and 20 million cubic feet per day (570×103 m3/d) of gas.
Noble Drilling and Wood subsidiary Mustang Engineering, part of the Wood Group, won the contract for Front-End Engineering Design (FEED). They proposed a single steel jacket with an integrated topsides deck with processing facilities, accommodation and a separate modular drilling rig. The steel jacket for Clair is located over the existing 206/8-10z well. The jacket is a four legged single steel structure with a height of approximately 165 metres (541 ft). At its base, the jacket measures 45 by 50 metres (148 by 164 ft), has a height of 169 metres (554 ft), and a total weight of 8,800 tons. Both jacket and topsides are designed for fabrication, transportation and installation as single fully integrated lifts (maximum 10,500t) that require access to the heaviest lift capability vessels on the installation market. BP awarded the contract for the fabrication of the platform jacket to Aker Verdal.[1]
The contract for the construction of the platform topsides was awarded to AMEC.[3] There are additional processing facilities for offshore power generation, water injection, produced water and cuttings re-injection, surplus gas disposal (export or re-injection) and flare gas recovery. Artificial lift is provided for all producing wells with the option of Electric Submersible Pumps (ESPs) for future well intervention. The operations will feature simultaneous drilling and coil tubing well intervention operations (SIMOPS). The topsides deck (including the flare boom) weighs 10,700 tonnes.[1]
The contract to build the accommodation modules was awarded to Leirvik Module Technology. The accommodation contract involves the fabrication of the living quarters and utility building which have a weight of 1000 tonnes. The contract for the drill rig fabrication contract was awarded to Heerema Hartlepool. The scope of the fabrication work incorporates fabrication of a Derrick Equipment Set (DES) module, with substructure and skid base and a Drilling Support Module (DSM). The work includes equipment installation and extended commissioning and the modules weigh approximately 2000t and 2400t respectively. The entire structure has a design life of 25 years.[1]
A further development phase is being planned called 'Clair Ridge' which aims to develop other areas of the field with further fixed platforms.[3]
Partners
The Clair Partnership comprises five partners with the following fixed equity interests:
- BP - 28.6%
- ConocoPhillips - 24.0%
- Chevron Corporation - 19.4%
- Royal Dutch Shell - 18.7%
- Amerada Hess - 9.3%[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Clair Field, Shetlands, United Kingdom". Offshore Technology. Net Resources International. http://www.offshore-technology.com/projects/clair/. Retrieved 2010-07-01. The five license blocks were 206/7, 206/8, 206/9, 206/12 and 206/15.
- ^ a b "BP Clair Field Inauguration". OilVoice. 2005-02-23. http://www.oilvoice.com/n/BP_Clair_Field_Inauguration/a246f717.aspx. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
- ^ a b c "AMEC Appointed to BP Clair Ridge Project Under New BP Global Agreement". OilVoice. 2008-11-28. http://www.oilvoice.com/n/AMEC_Appointed_to_BP_Clair_Ridge_Project_Under_New_BP_Global_Agreement/8b7e6dfd.aspx. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
See also
Categories:- BP
- Oil and gas industry of Shetland
- Oil fields of Scotland
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