BPTT: Juniper starts gas production offshore Trinidad and Tobago

BP PLC’s Trinidad and Tobago unit has reported the startup of its fifth major upstream project for 2017. BP Trinidad & Tobago’s (BPTT) Juniper development has begun production of natural gas offshore the twin-island Caribbean nation.

The project is expected to boost BPTT’s gas production capacity by 590 MMscfd and allow the company to meet its commitment to maintain its production from Trinidad and Tobago at more than 2 bscfd of gas.

BPTT said the project cost $2 billion and that Juniper is its first subsea field development in Trinidad and Tobago. It will produce gas from Corallita and Lantana fields via the new Juniper platform, 50 miles off the twin-island nation’s southeast coast. The gas is being produced on the continental shelf in 110 m of water. BPTT said the gas will flow to its Mahogany B hub via a 10-km flowline that was installed in 2016.

Bernard Looney, chief executive of BP’s upstream business, called Juniper a “major milestone” in BP’s 50-year history in Trinidad and Tobago. “It is the largest new project brought into production in Trinidad [and Tobago] for several years and the second major project we have started here this year,” Looney said.

Juniper’s startup is expected to assist with the gas shortages that the twin-island nation has suffered over the last 3 years that has hurt its downstream production of methanol, ammonia, and urea and has led to Atlantic LNG producing at 80% capacity.

BPTT noted that the Trinidad Onshore Compression project, which is another of its major projects on the island, began operations in April. And in June, BPTT reported that it had sanctioned development of the Angelin gas field, which is expected to start production in late 2019. BPTT also announced two gas discoveries that may support future developments offshore.