A floating storage unit built to serve the Mariner heavy oil field in the UK North Sea has set sail from its yard in Korea.
The Mariner B vessel was built at the Samsung yard in South Korea. Before reaching the North Sea the FSU will sail some 15,801 nautical miles (18,183mi/29,263km), equating to about two thirds of the circumference of the Earth.
Image: The Mariner facility - an artist's impression. Image from Statoil.
The topsides for the Mariner A platform are expected to arrive next year. Following hook-up and commissioning, start-up is planned for 2018.
“This is an important milestone for the Mariner project,” says Johan A. Johansen, Statoil’s vice president for operations on the UK Continental Shelf. “Following last year’s successful installation of the steel jacket for the Mariner A platform, we are now getting another key component in place on the field. This year will also see the start of a pre-drilling campaign of production wells. We are very much looking forward to increasing our operational activity,” Johansen says.
Mariner B will receive, store and offload the oil produced at the field. It will also store diluent, which will be mixed with the heavy Mariner oil during the production process to enhance processing and increase the value of the crude. Total storage capacity is around 850,000 bbl, of which around 150,000 bbl is reserved for diluent.
Mariner B is expected to arrive at Nigg Energy Park, north of Inverness, Scotland, in early September. At Nigg a fiscal metering package, fabricated locally, will be installed on the vessel before it continues out to the field, where it will be anchored, hooked up to risers and carry out other tie-in and pre-commissioning activities.
OSM Offshore Aberdeen was awarded the FSU management contract last year, supplying all operations, maintenance and marine crew services to Mariner B. ESS Offshore has been awarded the offshore catering and facilities contract for both Mariner A and B.
Mariner B can accommodate up to 32 personnel and will be available for continuous operation in harsh weather conditions, including shuttle tanker activities and helicopter operations. During normal operations, it will have a crew of 15.
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