Conoco in partnership with Ocean Energy, Inc., will install a Tension Leg Platform (TLP) to produce oil and natural gas from the Gulf of Mexico Magnolia field in nearly 4,700 feet of water, a record depth for this type of floating structure.
Located in Garden Banks blocks 783 and 784 about 180 miles south of Cameron, La., initial estimates call for the $600 million deepwater development project to deliver up to 150 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE). Production facilities will be designed to handle 50,000 barrels of oil and 150 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. Eight wells are planned and first production from the Magnolia field is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2004, with peak production occurring in 2005.
ABB Lummus Global Americas of Houston has been awarded a contract for design, procurement, project management, and construction services for the TLP hull and associated systems. This innovative deepwater hull will consist of four circular columns connected at the bottom by rectangular pontoons. At the base of each column, a pontoon will extend outward to support two tethers, which will be connected to pile foundations on the seabed. Alliance Engineering of Houston has been awarded the contract for topsides engineering, procurement and project management services. The topsides design will incorporate state-of-the-art lightweight design technology, which will reduce costs and preserve flexibility in future production operations. Alliance’s lightweight topside designs have been included on several projects, including Enchilada, Morpeth, Allegheny, Prince and Horn Mountain. In addition, Alliance is currently designing topsides for the Marco Polo deepwater development in the Gulf of Mexico. Conoco, as operator, holds a 75-percent interest in the field with Ocean owning the remaining 25-percent.
For more projects, subscribe to our Project Preview Newsletter