BP has started a US$1 billion in its Eastern Trough Area Project (ETAP) in the North Sea as part of a platform renewal life extension project.
The investment will see the facilities (pictured), which produce oil and gas from nine different reservoirs, continue through to 2030.
Two weeks ago the Safe Caledonia flotel arrived in the ETAP area, launching the start of the investment program. BP is also drilling new wells on ETAP’s Machar and Marnock fields, replacing subsea infrastructure and deploying new technologies. OE covered BP's plans to rejuvenate ETAP back in 2013.
BP’s regional president, Trevor Garlick, said: “These are challenging times for the industry and we are having to make hard choices. Nonetheless, we remain committed to improving the competitiveness of the North Sea and to maximizing economic recovery from our fields.
“Two weeks ago we welcomed the arrival of the Safe Caledonia flotel into the ETAP area, launching the start of a major investment program to renew the platform and extend its field life. In parallel, we are drilling new wells on ETAP’s Machar and Marnock fields, replacing subsea infrastructure, and deploying new technologies to help maximize the fields’ recovery.
“ETAP holds significant potential and we are working to ensure its reliability, efficiency and long-term competitiveness. This project will secure the future of the field until 2030 and beyond.”
ETAP’s first field was discovered in 1976 and has been producing since 1998. It is in 95m water depth in blocks 22/24a and 22/24b, 240km east of Aberdeen in the central North Sea.
The ETAP central processing facility (CPF) comprises a production drilling riser platform, bridge-linked to a quarters and utilities (QU) platform, with a capacity for 117 POB. A normally unmanned installation, with maximum 12 POB, stands about 20km to the east.
Oil is exported via the Forties pipeline system to Kinneil. Gas is exported via the CATS pipeline to Teesside.
To date, ETAP has produced 521 MMbo. But, the ETAP facilities has been significantly impacted by underlying reliability issues. The asset is also aging, compounding the performance decline, and contributing to an overall decline in operating efficiency.
The investment will also see new living quarters on ETAP, increasing personnel on site from 117 to 143.
The ETAP renewal program follows a similar campaign on the Magnus facility, covered by OE last year.
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