The Balmoral oil field is a depleted crude oil field in the UK sector of the central North Sea, 225 km north-east of Aberdeen. Oil was produced from the field reservoir by the Balmoral Floating Production Vessel (FPV) between 1986 and 2020. The Balmoral FPV also processed oil from six minor oil fields in the area. Oil production from the field has ceased.
The Balmoral oil field is located in Block 16/21 of the UK North Sea continental shelf.[1] The field was discovered in August 1975; the oil reservoir comprises Upper Paleocene and Devonian sandstones at a depth of 7,000 feet (2,100 metres).[2] The reservoir and its fluids have the following characteristics:[2]
The joint venture owners of the field in 1994 were Sun Oil Britain Ltd (62.0%), Deminex UK Oil and Gas Ltd (15.0%), Clyde Expro plc (15.0%), Pentex Oil Limited (8.0%). Sun Oil operated the Balmoral field.[1] In 2004 Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) acquired a 70.2% interest in the field; in 2007 Oilexco acquired the stake from CNR; in 2009 Premier Oil E&P UK Ltd acquired Oilexco and Premier Oil becomes the operator of the Balmoral field.[3]
Development
The Balmoral field was developed by a single custom built integrated production and accommodation semi-submersible vessel. The principal design data of the Balmoral FPV was as follows.[2]
Brae-Forties trunk line via 14.5 km 14-inch pipeline
Gas production to
On board fuel gas and lift gas, excess flared
Small oil fields in the vicinity of Balmoral were developed with subsea wellheads. Well fluids were transported by pipeline from the wells to the Balmoral FPV for treatment and export.[4][5]
Small oil fields producing to Balmoral
Field
Beauly
Brenda
Burghley
Glamis
Nichol
Stirling
Location
16/21
15/25b
16/22
1621
15/25a
16/21
Reservoir
Paleocene sands
Paleocene sands
Paleocene sands
Late Jurassic
Paleocene sands
Devonian sandstone
Owners
Talisman; Repsol Sinopec
Oilexco Inc; Premier Oil E&P UK
Talisman; Repsol Sinopec
Premier Oil E&P UK
Oilexco Inc; Premier Oil E&P UK
Premier Oil E&P UK
Wells
1
5
1
3
1
5
First oil
2000
2007
2010
1987
2007
1995
Peak production
10,000 bpd
30,000 bpd
1,300 bpd
10,200
Production to
9.3 km pipeline to Balmoral
8 km pipeline to Balmoral
17.3 km pipeline to Balmoral
4.7 km pipeline to Balmoral
9.5 km pipeline to Brenda
11.1 km pipeline to Balmoral
Processing plant
Oil from the wellheads was routed to two stages of 3-phase (oil, gas, water) separators where gas and water were removed.[2] Oil was metered and pumped via a 14.5 km 14-inch diameter flexible riser and pipeline to a tie-in on the Brae–Forties trunk line and thence to Cruden Bay.[2]
The peak production from Balmoral was 1.71 million tonnes per year in 1987.[1] In 1991 the production rate was 35,000 bpd.[6]
Gas from the separators was compressed and used as fuel gas and lift gas for a number of wells.[4]
Water injection facilities for up to 100,000 bpd were provided to maintain reservoir pressure through six injection wells.[2]
Decommissioning
A Cessation of Production application was received from the Oil and Gas Authority on 23 April 2018.[4] Premier Oil prepared a decommissioning plan.[7] Production from Balmoral ceased on 28 November 2020. The FPV was flushed to remove hydrocarbon. It was removed from the field in May 2021 and was taken to Denmark for dismantling and recycling of materials.
References
^ abcDepartment of Trade and Industry The Energy Report 29 and map 8 0115153802 (1994). The Energy Report. London: HMSO. pp. 29 and map 8. ISBN0115153802.
^ abcdefOilfield Publications Limited (1985). The North Sea Platform Guide. Ledbury: Oilfield Publications Limited. pp. 31–39.
^"Balmoral Oil Field". abarrelfull. from the original on 2014-07-01. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
^ abc"Decommissioning projects". from the original on 2021-10-21. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
^"Brenda, Nicol fields in UK North Sea start oil production". from the original on 2021-10-21. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
^Tonkin, P.C. and A. R. Fraser (1991). "The Balmoral Field, Block 16/21, UK North Sea". Geological Society. 14: 237–44.
^"Balmoral decommissioning Programmes" (PDF). (PDF) from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
August 17, 2023
balmoral, field, depleted, crude, field, sector, central, north, north, east, aberdeen, produced, from, field, reservoir, balmoral, floating, production, vessel, between, 1986, 2020, balmoral, also, processed, from, minor, fields, area, production, from, field. The Balmoral oil field is a depleted crude oil field in the UK sector of the central North Sea 225 km north east of Aberdeen Oil was produced from the field reservoir by the Balmoral Floating Production Vessel FPV between 1986 and 2020 The Balmoral FPV also processed oil from six minor oil fields in the area Oil production from the field has ceased Balmoral oil fieldLocation of Balmoral oil fieldCountryUnited KingdomRegionNorth SeaLocation block16 21Offshore onshoreoffshoreCoordinates58 13 45 N 1 06 31 E 58 2292 N 1 1086 E 58 2292 1 1086OperatorsSun Oil 1986 2004 Canadian Natural Resources 2004 07 Premier Oil from 2007 Ownersee textField historyDiscoveryAugust 1975Start of production1986Peak of production1987Abandonment2020ProductionEstimated oil in place68 million barrels 8 9 10 6 t Recoverable oil million tonnes 13 33Producing formationsUpper Paleocene and Devonian sandstones Contents 1 The field 2 Owners and operators 3 Development 3 1 Processing plant 4 Decommissioning 5 ReferencesThe field EditThe Balmoral oil field is located in Block 16 21 of the UK North Sea continental shelf 1 The field was discovered in August 1975 the oil reservoir comprises Upper Paleocene and Devonian sandstones at a depth of 7 000 feet 2 100 metres 2 The reservoir and its fluids have the following characteristics 2 Balmoral reservoir and fluids Parameter ValueAPI gravity 39 9 APIPorosity 17 28 Permeability 3 300 mdSulfur NilInitial recoverable reserves 68 million barrels 13 33 million tonnesOwners and operators EditThe joint venture owners of the field in 1994 were Sun Oil Britain Ltd 62 0 Deminex UK Oil and Gas Ltd 15 0 Clyde Expro plc 15 0 Pentex Oil Limited 8 0 Sun Oil operated the Balmoral field 1 In 2004 Canadian Natural Resources CNR acquired a 70 2 interest in the field in 2007 Oilexco acquired the stake from CNR in 2009 Premier Oil E amp P UK Ltd acquired Oilexco and Premier Oil becomes the operator of the Balmoral field 3 Development EditThe Balmoral field was developed by a single custom built integrated production and accommodation semi submersible vessel The principal design data of the Balmoral FPV was as follows 2 Balmoral FPV design data Coordinates 58 229186N 1 108617EWater depth 143 147 metresType Purpose built semisubmersible GVA 5000Function Production and accommodationFPV design and fabrication Gotaverken Arendal Gothenburg Highland Fabricators NiggTopsides design Bectel Great Britain LtdDisplacement 33 000 tonnesAnchoring 8 point 4 thrustersAccommodation 120 crewWell slots 14 on template other remoteWells 12 production 6 water injectionOil throughput 65 000 barrels per dayOil storage NoneWater injection 100 000 barrels per dayFPV installed 1986Production started November 1986Oil production to Brae Forties trunk line via 14 5 km 14 inch pipelineGas production to On board fuel gas and lift gas excess flaredSmall oil fields in the vicinity of Balmoral were developed with subsea wellheads Well fluids were transported by pipeline from the wells to the Balmoral FPV for treatment and export 4 5 Small oil fields producing to Balmoral Field Beauly Brenda Burghley Glamis Nichol StirlingLocation 16 21 15 25b 16 22 1621 15 25a 16 21Reservoir Paleocene sands Paleocene sands Paleocene sands Late Jurassic Paleocene sands Devonian sandstoneOwners Talisman Repsol Sinopec Oilexco Inc Premier Oil E amp P UK Talisman Repsol Sinopec Premier Oil E amp P UK Oilexco Inc Premier Oil E amp P UK Premier Oil E amp P UK Wells 1 5 1 3 1 5First oil 2000 2007 2010 1987 2007 1995Peak production 10 000 bpd 30 000 bpd 1 300 bpd 10 200Production to 9 3 km pipeline to Balmoral 8 km pipeline to Balmoral 17 3 km pipeline to Balmoral 4 7 km pipeline to Balmoral 9 5 km pipeline to Brenda 11 1 km pipeline to BalmoralProcessing plant Edit Oil from the wellheads was routed to two stages of 3 phase oil gas water separators where gas and water were removed 2 Oil was metered and pumped via a 14 5 km 14 inch diameter flexible riser and pipeline to a tie in on the Brae Forties trunk line and thence to Cruden Bay 2 The peak production from Balmoral was 1 71 million tonnes per year in 1987 1 In 1991 the production rate was 35 000 bpd 6 Gas from the separators was compressed and used as fuel gas and lift gas for a number of wells 4 Water injection facilities for up to 100 000 bpd were provided to maintain reservoir pressure through six injection wells 2 Decommissioning EditA Cessation of Production application was received from the Oil and Gas Authority on 23 April 2018 4 Premier Oil prepared a decommissioning plan 7 Production from Balmoral ceased on 28 November 2020 The FPV was flushed to remove hydrocarbon It was removed from the field in May 2021 and was taken to Denmark for dismantling and recycling of materials References Edit a b c Department of Trade and Industry The Energy Report 29 and map 8 0115153802 1994 The Energy Report London HMSO pp 29 and map 8 ISBN 0115153802 a b c d e f Oilfield Publications Limited 1985 The North Sea Platform Guide Ledbury Oilfield Publications Limited pp 31 39 Balmoral Oil Field abarrelfull Archived from the original on 2014 07 01 Retrieved 21 October 2021 a b c Decommissioning projects Archived from the original on 2021 10 21 Retrieved 20 October 2021 Brenda Nicol fields in UK North Sea start oil production Archived from the original on 2021 10 21 Retrieved 20 October 2021 Tonkin P C and A R Fraser 1991 The Balmoral Field Block 16 21 UK North Sea Geological Society 14 237 44 Balmoral decommissioning Programmes PDF Archived PDF from the original on 2020 11 09 Retrieved 20 October 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Balmoral oil field amp oldid 1146527974, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
