AWE starts oil production from Pateke-4H in Tui area

April 7, 2015
AWE Ltd. has completed its subsea tie-back and installation project to connect the Pateke-4H development well to the Tui area oil fields gathering system.

AWE Ltd. has completed its subsea tie-back and installation project to connect the Pateke-4H development well to the Tui area oil fields gathering system.

Flow testing is under way to determine the optimal well settings. The well recorded an initial unstabilized flow rate of 34,000 b/d through a 67% choke with a 48% water cut, which is in line with field modelling.

AWE plans to test various facility parameters, including choke settings, before establishing a much lower stabilized flow rate for long-term production. The company forecasts oil production from the well will then decline relative to the increasing water cut in the well.

“The Pateke-4H development well is performing as expected and will boost near-term production and cash flow without additional operating costs,” said Bruce Clement, AWE managing director, adding that the well represents the final stage of development for the Tui project.

The subsea tie-back and installation project involved the installation of 1,312 m of flexible flow line, a gas lift umbilical and production manifold, integrated controls and ancillary equipment in 124 m of water.

The Tui area oil fields and the Umuroa floating production, storage, and offloading vessel were shut in for the duration of the tie-back project (OGJ Online, Apr. 24, 2007). During the shut-in period, a planned program of facility inspections and maintenance was conducted.

The Tui area oil fields comprises Tui, Amokura, and Pateke fields 50 km offshore Taranaki, New Zealand, in PMP 38158 (OGJ Online, Oct. 29, 2004). Production from each field is fed into the Tui field gathering system and then into the Umuroa FPSO.

AWE operates PMP 38158 with 57.5% interest. Partners are New Zealand Oil & Gas subsidiaries 27.5% and Pan Pacific Petroleum subsidiaries 15%.