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TOTALFINA Introduces New Technology in the UK North Sea with Installation and Start-up of Multiphase Pumps on the Dunbar Platform |
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| Nov. 03, 99 |
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TOTALFINA and its partner Elf Aquitaine have started up the multiphase pumps installed in July on the Dunbar platform located on the UK Continental Shelf 400 kilometers north-east of Aberdeen. TOTALFINA is operator with a 33.3% interest and Elf Aquitaine holds the remaining 66.67%.
TOTAL launched the Poseidon project in 1984, in partnership with Institut Français du Pétrole (IFP) and Statoil, to develop "rotodynamic" multiphase pumps based on a technology developed by IFP. The pumps are designed to increase production by enabling simultaneous liquids pumping and gas compression of the commingled wellhead effluents. This type of pump simplifies production facilities by reducing the amount of equipment required in a conventional arrangement. In light of the prototypes' promising performance, it was decided to develop large capacity pump units.
This technology was introduced for the first time today on the offshore Dunbar platform of the UKCS with two electrically driven multiphase pumps, 4.5 megawatts each, that will deliver a flow of 40,000 barrels of liquids and 3 million cubic meters of gas per day. The pumps will accelerate oil and gas production from the Dunbar platform and increase economic reserves from the oil and gas reservoirs of Dunbar and its Ellon and Grant sub-sea satellites.
The effluents produced from these fields will be transported by a single multiphase pipeline to the Alwyn platform, located 22 kilometers to the north, for treatment before transportation to the shore.
This technological breakthrough is the culmination of 15 years of research and development. A world first, it creates new opportunities for the Group's Exploration and Production sector, which intends to capitalize on this success for further implementation onshore and offshore on platforms, and eventually offshore sub-sea.
The recoverable oil and gas reserves on the Alwyn area had initially been estimated at 435 million barrels oil equivalent (boe) in 1986. Thanks to new discoveries and technological advances, the estimate was raised to 700 million boe in 1994, when operations started on the Dunbar platform. Today, the estimate stands at 1.2 billion boe.
As a result, operations on the Alwyn area will be extended several years beyond the estimate made in 1987, when the Alwyn field was brought on stream.
TOTALFINA owns 94.93% of Elf Aquitaine as of October 28, 1999. The two companies are awaiting approval from the European Commission to finalize their merger. A decision is expected in mid-February 2000. |
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