Texaco's Captain field on U.K. North Sea Block 13/22a was developed with a wellhead platform (left) tied back to a production, storage, and offloading ship moored 1.5 km away. Oil export is by shuttle tanker. These photos courtesy of Texaco.
Texaco North Sea U.K. Ltd. produced first oil from U.K. North Sea Captain field this month, following a £500 million ($800 million) development.
Block 13/22a Captain was developed with a wellhead protector platform and oil production and storage ship, with export by shuttle tanker.
Peak production of 63,000 b/d of oil is expected at midyear. Captain lies in 340 ft of water and has estimated reserves of 350 million bbl of 19-21° gravity oil and 53 bcf of gas.
The platform has 28 well slots, and is expected to house wellhead equipment for 16 production wells, five water injectors, and one aquifer water supply well.
The wells have horizontal sections of 4,600-6,000 ft, and each producer is fitted with a 456 hp electrical submersible pump with capacity to lift 20,000 b/d of oil.
The platform consists of a 4,500-metric ton jacket and 6,200-metric ton topsides and carries a drilling rig and living quarters unit for up to 70 crew. It was built by UIE Scotland Ltd., Clydebank.
The production ship was built to the Tentech 700 design at Spain's El Ferrol yard by Astilleros. It has capacity to store 550,000 bbl of oil and can house a crew of up to 50.
The ship is permanently moored 1.5 km from the platform and will be visited every 9 days or so by a shuttle tanker for offloading.
The crude oil will be delivered directly to customers or to Nigg Bay terminal in Scotland's Cromarty Firth.
Texaco intends to install either another wellhead platform or a subsea manifold in the field. This will also be linked back to the ship, and is likely to hold facilities for 10 production wells and three water injectors.
Texaco is operator and 100% owner of the field at present, but Korea Captain Co. Ltd., a joint venture of Korea Petroleum Development Corp. and Hanwha Energy, has the right to acquire a 15% interest.
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