Esso Production Malaysia Inc. has stepped up oil production from Guntong field, 130 miles off Peninsular Malaysia.
Flow at an initial rate of 25,000 b/d from the new Guntong D platform hiked field production to 100,000 b/d.
Guntong D, on which 40 wells are to be drilled, has a target production rate of 80,000 b/d. Esso installed the Guntong A, B, and C platforms in the 1980S.
The Guntong D drilling program will allow Esso to maintain current field production for the next several years.
The $400 million development project involved installation of production and compression platforms, living quarters, and an insulated pipeline.
Esso said this is the world's first pipeline installed with concrete coating over syntactic polyurethane insulation. The insulation prevents the oil from cooling below the temperature at which wax buildup would occur in the line.
Esso holds a 78% interest in Guntong field. State owned Petronas Carigali holds the remaining 22%.
Guntong is one of the largest oil fields operated by Esso Malaysia.
The company is the largest oil producer in Malaysia, operating 26 oil and gas platforms in eight producing fields.
It also is the largest supplier of gas to Peninsular Malaysia. In 1994, Esso Malaysia's net production was 153,000 b/d of oil and gas liquids and 419 MMcfd of gas.
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