Shell starts oil production from Gumusut-Kakap off Malaysia

Royal Dutch Shell PLC has started oil production from the Gumusut-Kakap floating production platform offshore Malaysia. Gumusut-Kakap field lies in 1,200 m of water.

Shell expects the platform to reach peak production of 135,000 b/d once fully ramped up. Work on the gas injection facilities continues, with startup expected next year.

Assemblage of the platform, built in Malaysia by Malaysian Marine & Heavy Engineering Sdn. Bhd., required lifting four decks totaling 40,000 sq m. Oil is transported to the Sabah Oil & Gas Terminal onshore at Kimanis, Malaysia, through a 200-km pipeline.

Shell says the project has allowed the company to share deepwater expertise with Malaysian energy companies, assisting in the Malaysian government’s goal to create an offshore industry hub. Gumusut-Kakap is expected to contribute as much as 25% of the country’s oil production.

Shell operates the Gumusut-Kakap joint venture with 33% interest. Partners are ConocoPhillips Sabah 33%, Petronas Carigali 20%, and Murphy Sabah Oil 14%.

Gumusut-Kakap is one of several deepwater projects undertaken by Shell, the most recent of which to start production was the Gulf of Mexico’s Cardamom development in September (OGJ Online, Sept. 8, 2014).