Chevron Upstream Europe has installed a new topsides module on to its Brittania bridge linked platform, paving the way for the start-up of the Alder.
The Alder high-pressure, high-temperature field was discovered in 1975, in Block 15/29a, 160km from the Scottish coastline in 150m water depth, but has been unable to be developed until now.
Chevron is developing the field with a single subsea well tied back to the Brittania platform via a 28km pipeline.
The project has a planned design capacity of 110 MMcf/d natural gas and 14,000 b/d condensate. First production is expected in 2016.
However, this required a new 800-ton topsides process module, built by OGN in Newcastle and transported 110mi (175km) to the Firth of Forth last month.
The module was then transferred to Seaway Heavy Lifting's Oleg Strashnov heavy lift vessel, before heading to the central North Sea, arriving 29 June to be successfully installed.
Offshore hook-up and commissioning has now started. The Alder well is expected to be drilled in 2015 with the Blackford Dolphin semisubmersible drilling rig, which is contracted to Chevron from mid-2015 for a multi-well program.
"This is a significant achievement and milestone for the Alder team. It is the culmination of years of planning and collaborative execution by Chevron, our co-venturer and our various contractors. Progress on Alder is an important driver of Chevron’s future growth plans in the UK,” said Craig May, managing director, Chevron Upstream Europe.
Gas from Alder will be exported to the Scottish Area Gas Evacuation (SAGE) terminal at St Fergus. Chevron North Sea operates the project and has a 73.684% interest, with co-venturer ConocoPhillips (UK) (26.316%).
Detailed engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning of the complete subsea system, including the main subsea manifold, subsea isolation valve manifold, 28km of pipe-in-pipe flow line, umbilical and tie-in spools, was awarded to Technip. This work will be carried out in Aberdeen, Evanton and Newcastle.
Design, manufacture and supply of two high pressure, HPHT vertical, subsea monobore trees and wellheads, was awarded to OneSubsea UK Ltd. at their Leeds facility.
Design, manufacture and supply of the subsea control system, including the hydraulic and electrical components to be installed both at subsea and on the Britannia BLP, has been awarded to Aker Solutions at their Aberdeen facility.
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