JOHN BROOKES GAS FIELD DEVELOPMENT

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
A.J. McDiarmid ◽  
P.T. Bingaman ◽  
S.T. Bingham ◽  
B. Kirk-Burnnand ◽  
D.P. Gilbert ◽  
...  

The John Brookes gas field was discovered by the drilling of John Brookes–1 in October 1998 and appraisal drilling was completed in 2003. The field is located about 40 km northwest of Barrow Island on the North West Shelf, offshore West Australia. The John Brookes structure is a large (>90 km2) anticline with >100 m closure mapped at the base of the regional seal. Recoverable sales gas in the John Brookes reservoir is about 1 Tcf.Joint venture approval to fast track the development was gained in January 2004 with a target of first gas production in June 2005. The short development time frame required parallel workflows and use of a flexible/low cost development approach proven by Apache in the area.The John Brookes development is sized for off-take rates up to 240 TJ/d of sales gas with the development costing A$229 million. The initial development will consist of three production wells tied into an unmanned, minimal facility wellhead platform. The platform will be connected to the existing East Spar gas processing facilities on Varanus Island by an 18-inch multi-phase trunkline. Increasing the output of the existing East Spar facility and installation of a new gas sweetening facility are required. From Varanus Island, the gas will be exported to the mainland by existing sales gas pipelines. Condensate will be exported from Varanus Island by tanker.

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 607
Author(s):  
Brian Jung ◽  
Niel Kritzinger ◽  
Steven van Wagensveld ◽  
John Mak

Australia has significant smaller-capacity gas fields, in relatively remote areas. An economically viable design for the Australian market is a small to mid-size gas plant to produce pipeline-quality gas and recover attractive amounts of liquid products (NGLs) for export by truck. Such a plant has minimal equipment, is highly modularised to be cost-effective for remote locations with high labour costs, can be relocated, and can be implemented in a substantially shorter time frame than conventional projects. For the North and South American markets, we have developed a deep dewpointing process that combines high NGL recovery with simplicity of design, yet is flexible enough to accommodate a range of compositions and flow rates. This design is well suited for standardisation of small to medium-size gas plants where feed gas compositions may vary and capacity increases are not well known. A short implementation schedule provides first-to-market economic benefits. We have developed 3rd Generation ModularisationSM that is proven to significantly reduce a plant’s footprint compared with more traditional modularisation practices. This new approach makes it possible to design a gas processing facility as transportable modules that can be built in the most cost-effective location, are low cost to install and may be relocated in the future. This has been demonstrated in a recent project completed in 2015 for Shell in Canada. This paper presents the solution for the Australian market that combines the benefits of high gas liquids recovery with low investment, delivered in compact relocatable modules that enable very flexible field development strategies.


1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 144
Author(s):  
Larry A. Tilbury ◽  
Philip M. Smith

The success of lateral prediction techniques based on seismic reflection amplitude analysis has had a significant impact upon recent appraisal and development planning strategies in the Coodwyn Gas Field, offshore north-western Australia.The Coodwyn structure is one of a series of major tilted fault blocks on the Rankin Trend. The gently dipping reservoir sequence of Late Triassic to earliest Jurassic age is truncated by a major erosional unconformity and is overlain by sealing Cretaceous sediments. It is situated some SO kilometres west- south-west of the producing North Rankin Gas Field, to which it bears a striking resemblance in structural form and reservoir stratigraphy. Eight appraisal wells have been drilled in and around the field since its discovery in 1971. The most recent appraisal drilling campaign was designed to test a possible northern extension of the field within a stratigraphically younger reservoir sequence than that previously seen. The success of this campaign was such that the northern Coodwyn reservoirs are now being evaluated as possible candidates for development from a Coodwyn Platform to provide gas for the North West Shelf Project - one of the largest and most ambitious natural resource developments yet undertaken in Australia.During the latest campaign it was confirmed that seismic reflection amplitudes at the Main Unconformity were directly related to the lithology and fluid content of the subcropping reservoir sequence. This has allowed the gas-bearing sands to be mapped across the field with far greater confidence than was previously possible, obviating the need for further appraisal drilling. In fact, Coodwyn -10, a well proposed to intersect the unappraised upper F sands, was not drilled because of the confidence placed in the amplitude map.The amplitude map was used extensively during the 1986 drilling campaign, for refining the structural interpretation of the field, and during the recent Goodwyn Field development planning for the targeting of notional development wells from possible platform locations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 288-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Huis in't Veld ◽  
Bart Schrijver ◽  
Alexander Salzwedel

AbstractThe Wingate gas field was discovered in August 2008 by Wintershall's exploration well 44/24b-7, which targeted a Base Permian closure with subcropping reservoirs of the Late Carboniferous Lower Ketch Formation. Pre-drill, significant upside was identified as a result of ConocoPhillips’ nearby 44/23b-13 well (2006), where the Westoe Coal Formation provides a seat seal to the Lower Ketch Formation. Because of the significant difference in free water level between the two wells, the volumetric uncertainty of undrilled compartments with reservoirs in the Lower Ketch, as well as the Caister Coal Formation, remained relatively high. To manage development risk and uncertainty without further appraisal expenditure, and to allow for early gas production, a phased field development was planned: that is, to appraise through development and production. Gas production, through a six-slot platform and export to the Dutch D15-A platform, commenced in October 2011, only 3 years after discovery. Initial development comprised the tieback of the exploration well and drilling of the second compartment with well 44/24b-A2Y. Subsequently, three more compartments were drilled as soon as production dropped off plateau. During the appraisal/development and 7 years of production, knowledge of the reservoirs increased significantly, improving the understanding of the challenging Westphalian gas play.


2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
F. Thompson ◽  
I. Terziev ◽  
I. Taggart

Offshore gas development projects including the North West Shelf of Australia continue to develop new technologies in order to reduce development costs. Given that the number of development wells directly relates to capital expenditure, past attempts have focussed on obtaining higher gas rates out of conventional well designs by carefully managing erosional limits, which, in turn, tend to restrict the use of higher offtake rates.A strategy based on safely flowing gas wells at higher rates results in fewer wells and delays the phasing-in of additional wells, both of which result in economic enhancement. In recent times the industry has increasingly moved to large-bore gas well technology as a means of realising this strategy. Large-bore gas wells are defined as wells equipped with production tubing and flow control devices larger than 7” or 177 mm. Originally developed for land-based operations, this technology is increasingly moving offshore into totally subsea systems. One factor limiting the speed of adoption of this technology is the trade-off that exists between the increased offtake rates offered by large-bore systems and the risks posed by wear due to erosion in and around the wellhead area caused by any solids entrained in the gas stream.The problem becomes more acute when different-sized well designs employ the same wellhead configurations, because the upper wellhead area is usually the critical and limiting wear component.This paper summarises the recent developments in large-bore offshore applications and presents a consistent methodology showing how different gas well designs can be compared using hydraulic and erosional considerations. Additional trade-offs posed by reliable solids monitoring and the adoption of untested wellhead and intervention designs are discussed. In many cases, hybrid designs based on large diameter tubulars but with conventional wellheads may offer a useful balance between higher well rates and adoption of proven technology. The results shown here are directly applicable to alternative well designs presently under consideration for a number of offshore reservoir developments.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-47
Author(s):  
Qingsha Zhou ◽  
Kun Huang ◽  
Yongchun Zhou

Background: The western Sichuan gas field belongs to the low-permeability, tight gas reservoirs, which are characterized by rapid decline in initial production of single-well production, short periods of stable production, and long periods of late-stage, low-pressure, low-yield production. Objective: It is necessary to continue pursuing the optimization of transportation processes. Method: This paper describes research on mixed transportation based on simplified measurements with liquid-based technology and the simulation of multiphase processes using the PIPEPHASE multiphase flow simulation software to determine boundary values for the liquid carrying process. Conclusion: The simulation produced several different recommendations for the production and maximum multiphase distance along with difference in elevation. Field tests were then conducted to determine the suitability of mixed transportation in western Sichuan, so as to ensure smooth progress with fluid metering, optimize the gathering process in order to achieve stable and efficient gas production, and improve the economic benefits of gas field development.


2021 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 325
Author(s):  
Barry E. Bradshaw ◽  
Meredith L. Orr ◽  
Tom Bernecker

Australia is endowed with abundant, high-quality energy commodity resources, which provide reliable energy for domestic use and underpin our status as a major global energy provider. Australia has the world’s largest economic uranium resources, the third largest coal resources and substantial conventional and unconventional natural gas resources. Since 2015, Australia’s gas production has grown rapidly. This growth has been driven by a series of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects on the North West Shelf, together with established coal seam gas projects in Queensland. Results from Geoscience Australia’s 2021 edition of Australia’s energy commodity resources assessment highlight Australia’s endowment with abundant and widely distributed energy commodity resources. Knowledge of Australia’s existing and untapped energy resource potential provides industry and policy makers with a trusted source of data to compare and understand the value of these key energy commodities to domestic and world markets. A key component of Australia’s low emissions future will be the development of a hydrogen industry, with hydrogen being produced either through electrolysis of water using renewable energy resources (‘green’ hydrogen), or manufactured from natural gas or coal gasification, with carbon capture and storage of the co-produced carbon dioxide (‘blue’ hydrogen). Australia’s endowment with abundant natural gas resources will be a key enabler for our transition to a low emissions future through providing economically competitive feedstock for ‘blue’ hydrogen.


2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
J-F. Saint-Marcoux ◽  
C. White ◽  
G.O. Hovde

This paper addresses the feasibility of developing an ultra-deepwater gas field by producing directly from subsea wells into Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Carrier ships. Production interruptions will be avoided as two Gas Production Storage Shuttle (GPSS) vessels storing CNG switch out roles between producing/storing via one of two Submerged Turret Production (STP) buoys and transport CNG to a remote offloading buoy. This paper considers the challenges associated with a CNG solution for an ultra-deepwater field development and the specific issues related to the risers. A Hybrid Riser Tower (HRT) concept design incorporating the lessons learned from the Girassol experience allows minimisation of the vertical load on the STP buoys. The production switchover system from one GPSS to the other is located at the top of the HRT. High-pressure flexible flowlines with buoyancy connect the flow path at the top of HRT to both STP buoys. System fabrication and installation issues, as well as specific met ocean conditions of the GOM, such as eddy currents, have been addressed. The HRT concept can be also used for tiebacks to floating LNG plants.


2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. Williamson ◽  
F. Kroh

Amplitude versus offset (AVO) technology has proved itself useful in petroleum exploration in various parts of the world, particularly for gas exploration. To determine if modern AVO compliant processing could identify potential anomalies for exploration of open acreage offshore Australia, Geoscience Australia reprocessed parts of four publicly available long cable lines. These lines cover two 2006 acreage release areas on the Exmouth Plateau and in the Browse Basin on the North West Shelf. An earlier study has also been done on two publicly available long cable lines from Geoscience Australia’s Bremer Basin study and cover areas from the 2005 frontier acreage release on the southern margin. The preliminary results from these three reprocessing efforts produced AVO anomalies and were made publicly available to assist companies interested in assessing the acreage. The results of the studies and associated data are available from Geoscience Australia at the cost of transfer.The AVO data from the Exmouth Plateau show AVO anomalies including one that appears to be at the Jurassic level of the reservoir in the Jansz/Io supergiant gas field in adjacent acreage to the north. The AVO data from the Caswell Sub-basin of the Browse Basin show an AVO anomaly at or near the stratigraphic zone of the Brecknock South–1 gas discovery to the north. The geological settings of strata possibly relating to two AVO anomalies in the undrilled Bremer Basin are in the Early Cretaceous section, where lacustrine sandstones are known to occur. The AVO anomalies from the three studies are kilometres in length along the seismic lines.These preliminary results from Geoscience Australiaand other AVO work that has been carried out by industry show promise that AVO compliant processing has value—particularly for gas exploration offshore Australia—and that publicly available long-cable data can be suitable for AVO analysis.


2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.J. Bennett ◽  
M.R. Bussell

The newly acquired 3,590 km2 Demeter 3D high resolution seismic survey covers most of the North West Shelf Venture (NWSV) area; a prolific hydrocarbon province with ultimate recoverable reserves of greater than 30 Tcf gas and 1.5 billion bbls of oil and natural gas liquids. The exploration and development of this area has evolved in parallel with the advent of new technologies, maturing into the present phase of revitalised development and exploration based on the Demeter 3D.The NWSV is entering a period of growing gas market demand and infrastructure expansion, combined with a more diverse and mature supply portfolio of offshore fields. A sequence of satellite fields will require optimised development over the next 5–10 years, with a large number of wells to be drilled.The NWSV area is acknowledged to be a complex seismic environment that, until recently, was imaged by a patchwork of eight vintage (1981–98) 3D seismic surveys, each acquired with different parameters. With most of the clearly defined structural highs drilled, exploration success in recent years has been modest. This is due primarily to severe seismic multiple contamination masking the more subtle and deeper exploration prospects. The poor quality and low resolution of vintage seismic data has also impeded reservoir characterisation and sub-surface modelling. These sub-surface uncertainties, together with the large planned expenditure associated with forthcoming development, justified the need for the Demeter leading edge 3D seismic acquisition and processing techniques to underpin field development planning and reserves evaluations.The objective of the Demeter 3D survey was to re-image the NWSV area with a single acquisition and processing sequence to reduce multiple contamination and improve imaging of intra-reservoir architecture. Single source (133 nominal fold), shallow solid streamer acquisition combined with five stages of demultiple and detailed velocity analysis are considered key components of Demeter.The final Demeter volumes were delivered early 2005 and already some benefits of the higher resolution data have been realised, exemplified in the following:Successful drilling of development wells on the Wanaea, Lambert and Hermes oil fields and identification of further opportunities on Wanaea-Cossack and Lambert- Hermes;Dramatic improvements in seismic data quality observed at the giant Perseus gas field helping define seven development well locations;Considerably improved definition of fluvial channel architecture in the south of the Goodwyn gas field allowing for improved well placement and understanding of reservoir distribution;Identification of new exploration prospects and reevaluation of the existing prospect portfolio. Although the Demeter data set has given significant bandwidth needed for this revitalised phase of exploration and development, there remain areas that still suffer from poor seismic imaging, providing challenges for the future application of new technologies.


2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 406
Author(s):  
Vishnu Nair

Moving from conventional to unconventional gas project development requires a significant shift in approach. This presents challenges for operators making this transition, including standards and specifications being mis-matched to functional requirements, the need for robust surface and subsurface field development planning, lack of infrastructure, high construction and procurement costs and the scarcity of supply chain and logistics support. In their need to prove up sufficient reserves in time for downstream LNG plant operations, coal seam gas (CSG) players have neglected the development of appropriate standards, specifications and contracting and procurement strategies that consider how upstream costs can be minimised. This can impact project viability in a high-cost, low-productivity environment. The requirement of shale gas development for continual expansion also presents challenges compared to conventional project development. Adopting a factory approach can ensure a smooth and economic transition through the phase of continual shale gas production across the life of individual wells and through field expansion. Using case studies, this extended abstract describes how innovation can be applied across the gas-gathering development phase of unconventional projects to achieve significant cost savings. Key innovative opportunities include: Maximising modularise construction and operation to reduce the construction schedule and maximise onsite productivity Relocatable, interchangeable, standardised skid designs (design kit approach). Standard modules sized to maximise container volumes (and they minimise freight costs) Low-cost design Asian and Australian fabrication. Fit-for-purpose technology and packages to lower operating costs. Design and fabrication to minimise environmental impacts.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document