Orca to start up late 2013

First production from the southern North Sea Orca field is due to start late 2013 following the installation of a new platform at the field.

The 1240-tonne D18a-A platform, to be normally unmanned, was installed using the installation vessel Oleg Strashnov in about 40m of water in the Dutch sector.  

The platform, built by HSM Offshore, at Schiedam, Netherlands, is designed to produce natural gas from up to six wells with a maximum production capacity of 2.4MM cu ft per day.

The first development well was spudded and is targeting a Carboniferous reservoir at a depth of 3600m.

The produced gas, separated from free liquid in the production separator, will be measured on the platform and exported via an 8” subsea pipeline, routed to the D15a-A platform for further treatment. Along with this export pipeline, a 2” pipeline will be installed for methanol supply from the D15a-A platform, 20km north. After treatment on the D15a-A platform, the produced gas will be exported via the existing main trunkline, operated by Noordgastransport, to Uithuizen in the Netherlands.

Orca is operated by GDF SUEZ E&P Nederland, which holds 22.4950% equity, with partners RWE Dea UK (19.7120%), E.ON E&P UK (23.4685%), EBN (22.5000%), GDF SUEZ E&P UK (8.5800%) and Faroe Petroleum (UK) (3.2445%). 

Image: The installation vessel Oleg Strashnov at work (not on Orca).