The Scarab and Saffron gas fields represent the first deepwater development to be undertaken in the Eastern Mediterranean. It lies in the in the West Delta Deep Marine concession and is the largest gas field development in Egypt.

OWNERSHIP

The field is owned by the Burullus Gas Company consortium, which consists of:

BG Group (Operator) – 25%

Edison Co. – 50%

Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) – 25%

DISCOVERY

The area lies some 90km from the Nile Delta shoreline in water depths of 250-850m. 

Since the concession agreement was finalised in 1995, 3,685km² of 3D seismic, together with 4,900km² of 2D seismic, have been shot. 

In June 1998, two successful wells were completed in separate accumulations. The first well, Scarab-1, tested in excess of 30mmscfd. Saffron-1, the second well, tested in excess of 90mmscfd – one of the highest gas-flow rates ever recorded in Egypt. Two appraisal wells, Scarab-2 and Saffron-2, were drilled in June/July 1998 and March 1999, respectively. Scarab and Saffron contain high-grade methane gas with very low levels of condensate, and little or no hydrogen sulphide or carbon dioxide. Field Reserves have been put at in excess of 4tcf.

DEVELOPMENT

The US$600 million development will comprise a long-distance subsea tieback, to new onshore facilities located adjacent to the Rosetta onshore processing plant, near Alexandria. The initial development phase will include eight subsea wells tied back to two manifolds and – via two (20 and 22in) export lines – to shore. 

A multiplexed electro-hydraulic control system and umbilicals will control the wells from the shore. Provisions will be made for future expansion by means of additional wells and manifolds (up to approximately 20 wells in total), to maintain the plateau production profile, as well as onshore gas-compression facilities. T

he US$145 million contract for the installation of the gas export pipelines, was won by Stolt Comex Seaway. The contract included laying the infield flowlines and service lines, the manifolds and well-control umbilicals. The pipelay barge LB200 will install the gas export pipelines with the Seaway Falcon installing infield lines. The Seaway Explorer and Seaway Legend will undertake manifold installation, pipeline burial, survey and hydrotest work. 

UMBILICALS

In April 2001, Nexans signed a €23 million contract with Burullus, for the supply of 100km of umbilical cable. These will deliver power, water and communications services to the subsea facilities. The 90km main cable will be laid at 250-850m depths. The company will also supply eight umbilical cables measuring a total length of 40km, for inter-platform connections.

SHORE APPROACH

The shore approach work for the gas export pipelines will be subcontracted to the Egyptian national offshore contractor, Petrojet, who will use the Petrojet 11 and Petrojet 12 pipelay barges, equipped with Saturnax automatic welding equipment supplied by the Stolt Offshore subsidiary Serimer DASA. Petrojet will also install a 300t manifold and carry out the concrete coating of the gas export pipelines. 

ONSHORE

The onshore processing plant will be designed to deliver up to 600mm standard ft³/day of gas and 3,000b/day of condensate. Treated gas will be exported via a new pipeline and metered at the tie-in to the Egyptian National Transmission System. On 11 August 1999, a gas sales agreement was signed with EGPC for the development of Scarab and Saffron. First gas production is expected in January 2003 and, after a short build up, the daily contract quantity will be 530mmscfd over a period of at least 17 years. The shore approach work will start in the fourth quarter of 2001, with the gas export pipelay and deep water works starting in the second quarter of 2002.

Contractors

Stolt Offshore: Pipeline installation

Rosetti Marino: EPC Subsea Templates ＆ Manifolds

Enppi: FEED scope by INTEC supported by Enppi’s engineering specialists (pipeline, instrumentation & offshore structures)

Manatee: Oversight of the engineering, procurement, construction and testing of the subsea facilities

Nexans: Chemical Umbilical, E/H Umbilical and Infield Umbilical