Start up on the Stella field will mark a step-change in operator Ithaca Energy's business, the firm said this morning.
First oil on the field, due at the end of this month, will see the firm's production more than double to 20-25,000 boe/d and unit operating costs drop to under US$20/boe.
Stella is in Blocks 29/10a and 30/6a under license 011. Ithaca's partners are Dyas (25.34% interest) and Petrofac (20%), with Ithaca holding the remaining 54.66%. The field is being developed using a floating production unit, the FPF-1 and, initially, tanker offloading.
The subsea commissioning program has recently been completed by Technip, with all the infield flowlines flushed and ready for the start-up of production. Connection and operational trials for the single anchor loading system have also been completed for the fleet of shuttle tankers that are available for oil exports from the FPF-1.
The FPF-1 offshore commissioning program is on-going, involving preparation of the topsides processing and utility systems for the introduction of hydrocarbons. This work is well advanced, with the operations team focused on completing the required inspections and associated readiness activities required to enable a safe and efficient start-up of the wells, says Ithaca. It is anticipated that this work will be completed around the end of this month and enable start-up of Stella production.
Significant progress has also been made during Q3 on the work program associated with switching from tanker loading to oil pipeline exports for the Greater Stella Area in 2017.
Following installation of a connection point on the Norpipe system in summer 2016, a 44km spurline from the FPF-1 to the Norpipe system was successfully installed in September 2016.
The key outstanding activities that now remain to be completed are the manufacture and installation of pipeline export pumps on the FPF-1 and the final subsea connections that need undertaking immediately prior to the switchover.
The field's oil export pipeline has been laid and initial tie-in works completed, allowing a switch from tanker loading to pipeline export during 2017, reducing operating costs and improving recovery, says Ithaca.
Meanwhile, the firm has acquired additional interest in the nearby Vorlich discovery, taking its stake to 33%, as well as 75% in the nearby Austen discovery.
Ithaca CEO Les Thomas, said: "Significant progress has been made with the offshore commissioning program on Stella and we are fast approaching start-up of the field."