Chevron started production at the high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) gas condensate Alder field in the Central North Sea that will help extend the field life of Britannia.
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Image of the installation of the Alder subsea isolation valve, with the Britannia platform in the background. Image from Chevron. |
The field is about 160km from the Scottish coastline in Block 15.29a, in some 150m water depth. Alder is a single subsea well tied back, via a 28km pipeline, to the existing ConocoPhillips-operated Britannia Platform, in which Chevron holds a 32.38% non-operated working interest.
The project has a planned design capacity of 110 MMcf/d of natural gas and 14,000 b/d of condensate. Production from Alder is expected to ramp up over the coming months.
Discovered in 1975, the development has been enabled through the application of innovative subsea technologies designed to meet the temperature and pressure challenges of Alder, Chevron said. Key technologies have included a vertical mono-bore subsea tree system; a subsea high integrity pressure protection system (HIPPS); and a specially designed corrosion monitoring system to measure the real-time condition of the production pipeline.
"First gas at Alder represents a significant milestone for Chevron and highlights our commitment to investing and developing resources in the UK,” said Greta Lydecker, managing director, Chevron Upstream Europe. “The safe and successful completion of this project was underpinned by strong collaboration between Chevron and Alder co-venturer ConocoPhillips. Alder supports our goal of helping maximize the economic recovery of the UK, adds significant production to our portfolio, and helps extend the field life of Britannia, an important asset to Chevron in the North Sea.”
Andy Samuel, chief executive at UK Oil and Gas Authority, said: “We are very pleased to see the safe flow of first gas from the Alder Field. Chevron’s application of innovative subsea technologies and use of the UK’s experienced supply chain is closely aligned to the Maximizing Economic Recovery Strategy, adding reserves and extending the life of an existing asset.”
Alder is operated by Chevron North Sea with 73.7% stake. Partner ConocoPhillips holds the remaining 26.3%.
See a video of Alder's journey to first gas
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