The first modules for Statoil's UK North Sea Mariner heavy oil field topside have set sail from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering's yard in South Korea.
The Mariner field is on the East Shetland Platform, about 95mi (150km) east of Shetland and is being developed via a production, drilling and quarters (PDQ) platform based on a steel jacket – Mariner A – connected to a floating storage unit (FSU), Mariner B.
The complete, more than 38,000 tonne topside consists of eight modules and a flare, which will be shipped via five heavy transports, all of which will set sail in coming weeks.
During this summer the modules will be installed offshore by the heavy lift vessel Saipem 7000. Mariner is due to come on stream in 2H 2018 and is set to produce some 500 MMbbl reserves with 55,000 b/d average palteau production.
“This is a very important step for us in the Mariner project. The sail away of our topside modules marks the beginning of an exciting period of activity for Statoil in the UK North Sea. Our team is focused on ensuring safe operations in this critical phase.” says Hedda Felin, managing director for Statoil Production UK.
During the summer of 2017, Statoil will also drill three exploration wells, one of which will be drilled in the Mariner area, and commission the Hywind Scotland pilot park, the world’s first offshore floating wind farm.
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Image from Statoil.
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