Project Profile
Value: US$440 million
Location: Block 48/2, about 80km offshore of the UK in the North Sea, UK
Reserves: 5 billion cubic metres of gas
Start-up Year: May 2011
Water Depth: 139ft (42m)
Babbage gas field is located in Block 48/2, about 80km offshore of the UK in the North Sea. It lies in 139ft (42m) of water and is the largest gas accumulation in the southern North Sea. E.ON Ruhrgas is the operator of the field, with 47% interest. Partners include Dana Petroleum (40%) and Centrica Resource (13%). In September 2013, Bayerngas has agreed a deal to acquire Centrica’s minority interest in the producing Babbage gas field in the UK North Sea. The field has been developed in two phases with an investment of €350m (US$440m). The first phase of development commenced production in August 2010. Phase two development was completed in May 2011. Life of the field is estimated to be 20 years. Babbage was found by the 48/2-2 discovery well in 1988. It was deemed uneconomical, as the discovery well flowed at the rate of only 3.8 million standard cubic feet each day (mmscfgd). An appraisal well, 48/2a-4, was drilled in July 2006 to a depth of 11,000ft. The well targeted the crestal area of the reservoir and flowed at a rate of 11mmscfgd. It established the presence of significant gas reserves. Estimated reserves of the field are five billion cubic metres of gas. The field contains good quality gas with low inert gas percentages and 93% methane.
Ode won the contract to conduct the conceptual engineering and FEED studies for the topside facilities of the Babbage platform. SLP Engineering was responsible for the construction of the platform. It subcontracted Merpro to supply three proppant removal packages. Technip was awarded a €32m (US$40.2m) contract to design, fabricate and manufacture the export pipeline, a 40t manifold and three flexible tie-in jumpers. It was also responsible for pre-commissioning, tie-ins and testing of the equipment.HB Rentals won a US$3.25m contract to supply 12 accommodation cabins for the Babbage platform. Pon Power Oil & Gas supplied the main generation system for the platform. Specialised Management Services designed the wellhead control panel / hydraulic power unit of the platform. SGC Metering supplied a metering computer system for the field. Penspen was responsible for the detailed design of the field development and also the preliminary design of the export pipeline.
Operators:
Premier Oil: Operator with 47% interest
Dana Petroleum: 40% interest
Bayerngas: 13% interest after Centrica farm out Sept 2013
Contractors:
HB Rentals: Supply 12 accommodation cabins for the Babbage platform
Ode: Conduct the conceptual engineering and FEED studies for the topside facilities of the Babbage platform
Penspen: Detailed design of the field development and preliminary design of the export pipeline
Pon Power Oil & Gas: Supply the main generation system for the platform
SLP Engineering: Construction of the platform
Specialised Management Services: Design the wellhead control panel/hydraulic power unit of the platform
SGC Metering: Supply a metering computer system for the field
Technip: Design, fabricate and manufacture the export pipeline
Jee Ltd: Contract with E.ON E&P to deliver subsea integrity management and engineering services for its North Sea assets. The three year contract, which was awarded in March 2015, involves Jee supporting E.ON E&P’s Subsea Technical Authority, by providing annual integrity management services for its subsea assets. The scope of work includes flowlines, risers, umbilicals and structures on EON E&P’s Huntington, Babbage, Hunter/Rita and Johnston assets.
Subcontractors:
Merpro: Supply three proppant removal packages