Shell Trinidad and Tobago, through Royal Dutch Shell PLC subsidiary BG International, began production on Block 5C in the East Coast Marine Area (ECMA) in Trinidad and Tobago—a milestone in the delivery of gas domestically and internationally through Atlantic LNG Co., Shell said July 22. First gas was reached July 18.
Block 5C, known as Project Barracuda, is a backfill project with about 25,000 boe/d (140 MMscfd) of sustained near-term gas production with peak production expected to be about 40,000 boe/d (220 MMcfd). It is Shell’s first greenfield project in the country and one of its largest in Trinidad and Tobago since the BG Group acquisition (OGJ Online, Apr. 8, 2015).
Final investment decision for the project was made in January 2020. It comprises two subsea wells (100% Shell owned), one in Endeavour field and one in Bounty field. Both are tied back to Shell’s Dolphin platform. Endeavour was drilled to a depth of 20,000 ft (6,096 m). Bounty was drilled to a depth of 16,000 ft (4,877 m).
Shell now moves toward delivery of the four-well development project in Block 22 and North Coast Marine Area (NCMA)-4, an offshore natural gas field in Trinidad and Tobago. The Colibri project is a joint venture with Heritage Petroleum Co. Ltd. (OGJ Online, Sept. 8, 2020). First gas is expected in 2022.
Shell holds 46-57.7% interest in each of Atlantic LNG’s four liquefaction trains at Point Fortin on the southwest coast of Trinidad, one of the world’s largest LNG exporters. Together, the plant can produce up to 100,000 cu m/day of LNG, which is shipped on LNG tankers to various destinations around the world. In addition to LNG, the facility produces natural gas liquids (NGLs).
