Chevron/Conoco sees U.K. Britannia platform taking shape

Chevron U.K. Ltd and Conoco (U.K.) Ltd. have completed predrilling in U.K. North Sea Britannia field and are seeing parts of the field's platform taking shape around Europe. Shown in the photograph are heat exchangers for the platform being fabricated at Motherwell Bridge Thermal Ltd., Broxburn, Scotland. The exchangers incorporate steel U-tubes up to 18.7 m long and 9.53-38.1 mm outside diameter, made by Sandvik Steel U.K. Ltd., Halesowen, at a factory it bought 90 km north of Prague. Chevron and Conoco are joint operators of Britannia, working towards first production in fourth quarter 1998. Britannia reserves are estimated at 3 tcf of gas and 155 million bbl of condensate. The combine has completed drilling 17 production wells, which Project Director Jeff Tetlow said has confirmed the geological model for Britannia. Tetlow said the venture is on target for capital expenditure of £ 980 million ($1.47 billion). Parts of the platform are being built around Europe, and next April, installation work will begin with placement of the first subsea manifold and laying of pipeline bundles. The jacket is being built at Dragados yard in Spain, and will be towed to the field next summer. Meanwhile, topsides fabrication and testing will be completed at Teesside, U.K. Chevron/Conoco has reduced its cost estimate and upped its reserves figure since development was sanctioned in 1994. Development will involve a conventional steel platform and two subsea centers (OGJ, Dec. 26, 1994, p. 30). Photo courtesy Motherwell.

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