Neptune Energy has commenced the subsea construction phase of its Seagull tieback project in the central North Sea (OGJ Online, Mar. 28, 2019).
TechnipFMC, working under the Neptune Energy Alliance Agreement, deployed the Apache II pipelay vessel to start the pipe-in-pipe installation, laying some 5 km of pipe connecting the Egret manifold to the Seagull development.
Seagull, a high pressure, high temperature (HPHT) development on UK license P1622 Block 22/29C, 17km south of the BP-operated ETAP central processing facility, is expected to produce 50,000 boe/d (gross). Proved plus probable gross reserves are estimated at 50 million boe.
TechnipFMC’s Normand Mermaid was mobilized late-August to provide pre-lay activities, including surveying and boulder removal. Following the pipe installation, its Normand Ranger will undertake trenching activities for the development.
The development will be tied back to the ETAP Central Processing Facility, partially utilizing existing subsea infrastructure. Gas from the development will come onshore at the CATS processing terminal at Teesside, while oil will come onshore through the Forties Pipeline System to the Kinneil Terminal, Grangemouth, Scotland.
Neptune is operator of Seagull with 35% equity interest. Joint venture partners are BP 50% and JAPEX 15%.