TotalEnergies SE subsidiary Total Austral SA has begun installing two 35-km pipelines that will transport natural gas to shore from its Fénix field in the Argentine Sea. The company initiated the offshore campaign near Vega Pléyade platform in Tierra del Fuego.
The operator took final investment decision (FID) last year to develop the gas project, which lies 60 km offshore southern Argentina (OGJ Online, Sept. 19, 2022).
Saipem SPA and Total Austral used offshore support vessel Normand Commander to install the project’s first pipeline sleeper June 27 near the platform, officially launching the campaign. Concrete sleepers ensure stability of the pipelines on sandy seabed.
Total Austral said it expects to complete installation of the remaining eight sleepers from the Port of Punta Quilla during the first week of July.
Total Austral and Saipem will also install the two subsea lines: a 4-in OD line using pipe manufactured in Argentina, and a 24-in OD line, with pipe manufactured in Greece.
Fénix is progressing to plan, according to Total. In August, subsea pipelay work to connect a new production platform to the Vega Pléyade platform will begin. The work will be carried out by pipelay vessel Saipem Castorone.
The second stage of the campaign will focus on transportation and installation of the production platform, under construction at Rosetti Marino SPA’s shipyard Ravenna, Italy. Transport of the platform to Argentina and its subsequent installation will be carried out by Heerema Marine Contractors’ Aegir deepwater construction vessel. Drilling of three horizontal wells will follow with production expected to start by end-2024.
The $700-million Fénix project is expected to produce 10 million cu m/day of gas to be used in Argentina.