Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) is pleased to announce that the Angsi field, jointly developed by PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd and ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc, has successfully produced its first oil and gas on 21 December 2001, six months ahead of schedule.
The field began its oil production with an initial flow of 15,000 barrels per day (BPD), while its gas production started at about 60 million standard cubic feet per day (SCFD). At its peak, the field is expected to produce about 65,000 BPD of oil and 450 million SCFD of gas, which is equivalent to 10 per cent and 17 per cent respectively of the country’s current total oil and gas production.
The Angsi Project began in late 1997 after PETRONAS awarded selected offshore gas fields to PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd and Esso Production Malaysia Inc (now ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc) under a new Gas Production Sharing Contract signed in June of the same year. The partnership between PETRONAS Carigali and ExxonMobil is 50:50 with PETRONAS Carigali appointed as the operator of the field.
The project consists of an integrated oil and gas central processing platform connected to a 52-well drilling platform via a 100-metre bridge, as well as a 32-well satellite drilling platform. The complex is the biggest integrated oil and gas platforms in the South China Sea.
Over 300 kilometres of pipelines were installed by the partners as part of the development of the Angsi field, including connections to existing gas production facilities at Guntong-D and Seligi-A, connection to the existing oil production facilities at Tapis, and a new 166-km pipeline from the Angsi complex to the onshore receiving facility. The new pipeline establishes the Angsi complex as a new hub for transporting gas to shore, enhancing the security of supply via an alternative transportation route.
The project was completed six months ahead of schedule with a 30-per cent saving from the original approved cost. This was achieved via continuous cost reduction and resource optimisation efforts such as joint procurement and contracting, sharing of facilities and resources, simplification of processes and facilities and other initiatives.
The project also uses the hydraulic fracturing technology in its drilling campaign, making it the first in Malaysia to have applied this technology to maximise gas recovery. Last month, the longest well in Malaysia with a total depth of 5,683 metres was successfully drilled at the field in record time of 29 days.
The three platforms that make up the Angsi complex were fabricated almost simultaneously at multiple yards in Malaysia. The 52-slot drilling platform, the largest in the region, and the 13,000-tonne central processing platform were fabricated within a record period of 16 months.
The first oil and gas from Angsi field marks a major milestone in the overall development of Gas PSC in the country. It manifests the commitment of both partners to ensure adequate supply of oil and gas to meet the energy needs of the country. It is also a testimony of the ability of local contractors to design and construct world-class oil and gas production facilities.
Issued by
Legal & Corporate Affairs Division
Leave a Reply