Project Profile
Value: US$3.5 billion
Location: OML 133, Nigeria, Africa
Capacity (FPSO): 2.2 million barrel capacity hull and capacity for 210,000 bpd oil processing, 340 MMcf/d and 150,000 bpd water injection
Production: 190,000 bopd and associated gas at a rate of 300 MMcf/d
Water Depth: 1,200 metres
Discovery: 1999
The Erha and Erha North project is located in 1,200 metres of water in OML 133 roughly 97 kilometres offshore Nigeria. Serving as the operator of the project, ExxonMobil through its subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL) holds a 56.25% interest and Shell holds the remaining 43.75%. Erha was discovered in February 1999 by the Erha-1 well, followed by appraisal drilling on the Erha-2 well. Two years later, the drilling and completing of an additional appraisal well, Erha-3, further defined the field. Shortly after, the operator submitted development plans for government approval and began development drilling on the field. After the start of Erha\'s development drilling, a subsequent oil discovery was made in March 2004 with the well Erha-7 and the Erha-7 sidetrack well. For a total investment of US$3.5 billion, the original field development plan consisted of 24 wells clustered in two drill centres, managed with a two-rig development-drilling program and ongoing production operations.
The wells are connected to an FPSO through flowlines and steel catenary risers, and processed crude oil is stored in the FPSO, and then offloaded to nearby tankers. Production from the joint development commenced on March 28, 2006 and produces at a rate of 190,000 bopd; associated gas produces at a rate of 300 MMcf/d, which is re-injected for reservoir maintenance. All gas-injection wells are over the gas cap from DCE, and water-injection wells are from DCW. Injection wells at each drill centre are routed through a manifold connected to the FPSO with a single insulated flowline and riser. The finalised development plan of Erha and Erha North consists of 32 subsea wells tied to an FPSO, one of the largest in the world. Control umbilicals connect the FPSO to each drill centre and provide the electric power and signals, fluids, injection capabilities and other services for the wells and manifolds. The new-build Erha FPSO is 935 feet (285 metres) long, 207 feet (63 meters) wide, with a 2.2 million barrel capacity hull and capacity for 210,000 bpd oil processing, 340 MMcf/d, and 150,000 bpd water injection. All processing equipment is above the main deck and the topside facilities consist of two trains of three-stage oil separation. Associated gas is compressed and dehydrated to provide fuel gas, with the remainder injected into the reservoir for pressure maintenance to enhance oil production. The export system consists of two 22-inch oil offloading lines connecting the FPSO to a spread-moored CALM offloading buoy system, anchored roughly 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometres) from the FPSO.
In January 2013, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL) secured approval from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to award three engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for Erha North Phase II project. Erha North Phase II project objectives include significant national content contributions, and will bring direct and indirect benefits to the Nigerian economy through project spending and employment. Subsea 7 and Sea Truck have been awarded the contracts from Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil. Subsea 7′s scope of work includes the engineering, procurement, fabrication and installation of 25 kilometres of flowlines, 15 kilometres of umbilicals, and 17 rigid jumpers. The scope also includes modifications to the FPSO in order to integrate it with the new subsea facilities. The project will maximise the use of local personnel and resources in Nigeria, and particular significant parts of the design will be executed in Nigeria and all Subsea structures will be fabricated in Nigeria. The Subsea specialist will also make modifications to the field’s floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel to integrate it with the new subsea facilities. Engineering work will commence immediately with offshore installation scheduled to commence in early 2015, using the Seven Borealis and the Seven Pacific.
Operators:
Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited - EEPNL (subsidiary of ExxonMobil): Operator with 56.25% % interest
Shell: 43.75% interest
Contractors:
Aker Solutions: Supply of subsea umbilicals
Cameron: Supply subsea production systems
Subsea 7 : EPIC of flowlines, umbilicals, and jumpers, and modifications to the FPSO
Sea Truck: EPC contract
Seadrill Limited (Nigeria): Employment of the new-build West Saturn
Sub contractor:
AVEON Offshore Limited: Fabrication of some major components of the Subsea Systems for Cameron
Trelleborg: Contract from Subsea 7 to supply its high-temperature thermal insulation material for Phase 2 of the Erha North project, Nigeria. Trelleborg will supply several tons of high-temperature silicone insulation, Vikotherm S1, to the oil and gas flowlines in the field.