EnQuest Britain Ltd. has let a contract to Technip for subsea equipment and services in its revitalization of a North Sea oil field once known as Argyll, the first field to produce oil at commercial rates offshore the UK.
EnQuest is drilling in the field, now known as Alma, and will begin drilling in nearby Galia field later this year.
It plans to drill six production wells in Alma and one in Galia as well as two water injection and disposal wells. Production wells will be completed with variable speed drive electric submersible pumps.
Produced fluids will flow to a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel undergoing modification in Hamburg, Germany, to be renamed EnQuest Producer. The FPSO will be able to handle production streams with water cuts as high as 95%.
Subject to final approvals, EnQuest expects production to start in the fourth quarter of 2013 and to peak above 20,000 boed in 2013.
The fields are in 80 m of water 310 km southeast of Aberdeen, Scotland. EnQuest estimates proved plus probable reserves at 20.8 million boe at Alma and 8.6 million boe at Galia.
Argyll production started in 1975 and ceased in 1992 with a water cut of about 70%. With nearby Duncan and Innes fields, Argyll produced a total of 97 million bbl of oil.
Argyll had been developed with the world’s first floating production system, a converted semisubmersible drilling rig (OGJ, Dec. 14, 1992, p. 26).
Alma is on Blocks 30/24c and 25c, License P1765. Galia is on Block 30/24b, P1825.
Tuscan Energy North Sea Ltd. redeveloped the field and renamed it Ardmore, which produced during 2003-05 until Tuscan entered receivership with oil output at 6,000 b/d. Acorn Oil & Gas Ltd., a 35% partner, completed the removal of three subsea wellheads and a subsea manifold 2 years later.
Technip’s contract in the new revitalization project is for installation of production and water flowlines, risers, umbilicals, and power cables; procurement, fabrication, and installation of a 175-ton manifold structure; and associated trenching, tie-ins, testing, and commissioning.
EnQuest holds a 65% interest in the Alma-Galia development after recently farming out a 35% interest to Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Co. for a $500 million investment covering a pro rata share of past expenditures and future contributions.
