Burullus taps Intec for Simian, Sienna, Sapphire development services off Egypt

Oct. 15, 2003
Burullus Gas Co., has selected Intec Engineering (UK) Ltd., Woking, UK, to serve as an integral member of its Burullus Gas Project Management Team (PMT) providing engineering services during the development of deepwater Simian-Sienna and Sapphire gas fields off Egypt. Intec performed the front-end engineering design for Simian-Sienna, completing it in July 2002.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Oct. 14 -- Burullus Gas Co., has selected Intec Engineering (UK) Ltd., Woking, UK, to serve as an integral member of its Burullus Gas Project Management Team (PMT) providing engineering services during the development of deepwater Simian-Sienna and Sapphire gas fields off Egypt. Intec performed the front-end engineering design for Simian-Sienna, completing it in July 2002.

Burullus is the joint venture that operates the West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) concession north of the Nile Delta in the Mediterranean Sea for its three partners: Egypt's national oil company Egyptian General Petroleum Corp., which owns 50% interest; BG-Egypt SA 25%; and Malaysia's national oil company Petronas Carigali Sdn. Bhd. 25%.

Intec is providing engineering services for seabed production facilities and a 70-mile, 26-in. gas pipeline that will tie in to facilities at nearby BG-operated Scarab Saffron field.

Technip-Coflexip has the contract for subsea development of Simian-Sienna, which is expected to produce 665 MMscfd of natural gas to be used as feed for the Egyptian LNG plant being built 71 miles away at Idku, Egypt, near Alexandria. Egyptian national subcontractors will perform the design, fabrication, and installation of the platform (OGJ Online, July 8, 2003).

Scarab Saffron field began producing gas and transporting it in March. First hydrocarbons from Simian-Sienna wells are planned for third quarter 2005. Sapphire field, west of Scarab Saffron and 46 miles from shore, is a separate development scheduled to tie in to WDDM in 2006.

Project challenges
A number of challenges are associated with the development, said Graham Taylor, Intec's project manager for Simian-Sienna. The wellhead valve assemblies will have a high pressure of 150 MMscfd of gas, for example, and large-diameter connectors. In addition, a dedicated state-of-the-art controls system will be necessary and precise chemical injection to prevent hydrates from forming.

Initial Simian-Sienna development will consist of six production wells: four in Simian and two in Sienna in water 2,221-3,258 ft deep. Each field will have two production hubs and a 20-in. infield pipeline between two manifolds. Also planned is the 26-in. export pipeline to Scarab Saffron. Each manifold is designed to facilitate future expansion. Glycol for injection will be delivered via a 4-in. pipeline from an onshore plant.

Controls equipment and a methanol injection unit will be mounted on the controls platform, which will be connected to an onshore facility via a combined power and communications umbilical.

"The controls system represents an industry first because of a combination of length and system complexity, said Taylor.

Sapphire field development calls for an initial eight production wells in 1,168-1,637 ft of water, with tiebacks to additional manifolds. The field will be tied back to Scarab Saffrom's pipeline end manifold for a tie-in to the WDDM pipeline system.

"Because of the more complex nature of the Sapphire reservoirs, smart well technology is being utilized for this field," said Taylor.