ANNE K. RHODES
REFINING/PETROCHEMICAL EDITOR
Two light, sweet crudes from offshore Australia have been assayed.
Gippsland crude, also called Bass Strait, is produced off the coast of Victoria, in southeastern Australia (see map). The 47 API, 0.09% sulfur crude was analyzed in mid 1993.
Skua, a 42 API, 0.06 wt % sulfur crude, is produced in the Tinior Sea.
GIPPSLAND
There are 18 offshore production facilities in the Gippsland basin: 14 steel platforms, 2 monotowers, and 2 subsea completions. Initial reserve estimates for the basin were 3.6 billion bbl crude and condensate, 0.6 billion bbl LPG, and 8.3 tcf dry gas.
Gippsland oil production has declined from its peak of about 500,000 b/d in 1984, to about 300,000 b/d as of late 1992. But Bass Strait producers BHP Petroleum Pty. Ltd. and Esso Australia Ltd.each with a 50% interest in the basin say Bass Strait will be a significant contributor to Australian oil production well into the next century (OGJ, Sept. 14, 1992, p. 13).
Comparison with an earlier assay shows that Gippsland gravity has increased from 45.4 in 1987 to 47.0 in 1993. And although sulfur content has remained constant, the crude's pour point has decreased from 15 C. in 1987 to 9 C.
Loading jetties for the crude oil located at Long Island Point and Crib Point in Westernpoint Bay, about 100 km south of Melbourne.
SKUA
Skua field came on stream in 1991, at which time a BHP led group estimated its reserves to be about 20 million bbl, a downward revision of an earlier estimate of 25 30 million bbl (OGJ, May 6, 1991, p. 44). Expected productive life of the field is 8 9 years.
Skua's characteristics have changed little, with gravity decreasing from 42.5 in 1991 to 41.9 in early 1993, when this assay was performed. Pour point has increased to 12 C. from 9 C. during the period.
Skua's floating production/storage system involves a moored tanker and floating riser system. [See book for statistics.]
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