GDF SUEZ announced that the Amstel field oil production has started from its newly installed Q13a-A production platform off the Dutch coast.
After the acquisition of 50% into the Q13a offshore production license in 2010, GDF SUEZ Dutch Exploration and Production affiliate – GDF SUEZ E&P Nederland B.V., the first offshore gas producer in the Netherlands – demonstrated its capacity in bringing the Amstel field into production in less than 3 years. The company proved the existence of an economically viable amount of oil by successfully drilling an appraisal well at the beginning of 2011.
Jean-Marie Dauger, executive vice-president of GDF SUEZ, in charge of Global Gas & LNG business line, said: “This new production from the North Sea illustrates again the capacity of GDF SUEZ, as an operator, to maximize the potential of such a mature region, to leverage the existing infrastructure and to deliver a complex and innovating project in a safe and responsible manner. Amstel confirms the skills of our technical team to manage and deliver fast track projects on budget.”
The high quality light crude oil is transported through a newly-laid 25km long pipeline to the existing TAQA operated P15 platform, north-west of the Q13a-A platform. The oil is treated on the P15 oil and gas processing facilities before it is transported further through an existing pipeline to a refinery in the Port of Rotterdam. The Amstel field is expected to produce at plateau 15,000bo/d, with an expected field production life of 10 years.
The Q13a-A oil production platform is the first GDF SUEZ installed oil producing platform in the Netherlands. Power is supplied to the Q13a-A platform by a 14km long submarine high-voltage cable, connected to the onshore grid, providing renewable electricity offshore. The platform is secured to the seabed with suction anchors and has electrically driven submersible pumps in the production wells at a depth of two km.
The Amstel field was one of the first offshore discoveries, found in 1962. The field was left undeveloped until GDF Suez gained acquisition rights in 2010.
In 1962, the Amstel oilfield was one of the first offshore discoveries. The licence holders at the time decided not to develop the oil reservoir. Over 50 years later, the situation is completely different.
GDF SUEZ is operator of Amstel with a 50% stake, and partners are EBN with 40% and TAQA with 10%.
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