INDUSTRY NEWS
‘PHANTOM’ VOLCANO DISCOVERY MEANS NEW HOPE FOR NORTH SEA
Geologists at the University of Aberdeen have discovered a huge swathe of the North Sea left unexplored for oil and gas because of so-called ‘phantom’ volcanoes they have proven don’t exist. The 120km2
area, known as
the Rattray Volcanic Province, was previously thought to contain the remains of three volcanoes that erupted 165 million years ago. For decades it was assumed that the area contained the empty remains of old magma chambers, ruling out the possibility of oil and gas discoveries. However, a new study has overturned this view. The findings raise the prospect
of future discoveries in the area, which has been left untouched over 50 years of exploration activity in the North Sea.
New large capacity test separator
TUV SUD NEL, the flow measurement R&D specialist, has invested £1.45million in one of the world’s largest gravity test separators, as part of the build programme for its new Advanced Multiphase Facility (AMF). The new separator will test both multiphase and wet gas flows (oil, water and gas) and will ensure sufficient retention time, even at the largest flow rates. Weighing 270
Fast-track platform installed
2H Offshore has completed the installation of a lightweight, conductor-supported, minimum facility wellhead platform offshore Sarawak, Malaysia. The company was
responsible for the concept, detailed design, transportation and installation of the platform in 35m water depth for the D28 oilfield Phase 1 project for OceanMight Sdn Bhd on behalf of Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd. The innovative design has a
lightweight substructure that is supported by the conductors and a lightweight topside that was installed after drilling and completion. Both
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tonnes and operating at pressures up to 150 bar, it will enable flow rates within the AMF that are 20 times greater than the performance of any other test facility in the world. This will meet the oil & gas
industry’s growing demand for flow meter testing that more accurately reflects real-field conditions, to reduce measurement uncertainty and minimise fiscal inaccuracy. The £16million AMF is designed
to provide a new, best-in-class test facility, and will focus predominantly on the £50-billion-per-annum global subsea sector and wet gas business.
NOVEL WELLHEAD AND TREE EQUIPMENT PACKAGE
A UK equipment supplier has announced a joint venture that will allow it to supply an innovative surface wellhead and tree production equipment package, which will enhance production integrity and reduce the need for long-term repair and maintenance. Plexus is partnering with BEL
components were installed using a jack-up drilling rig, which offered substantial time and cost savings. This is the first platform of its kind
to be installed using a jack-up drilling rig for Petronas in Malaysia.
Valves to provide surface trees and wellhead annulus valves to complement Plexus’ surface wellhead product line. The package will use advanced technology to reduce repair, intervention and costs whilst upholding the highest standards of well integrity. It has the potential to save operators tens of millions of pounds in TCO over the life of a project.
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