The FPSO for the Shell Pierce gas expansion project in the UK North Sea is “nearly there” with its refurbishment work.
That’s according to Jesse van de Korput, vice president of the vessel owner Bluewater, who gave a short status update on the Haewene Brim FPSO’s progress on social media.
The FPSO arrived at Haugesund, Norway for work in December, leaving the Pierce oilfield operated by Shell ahead of its gas redevelopment scheme.
It had been expected to leave Haugesund in March, Bluewater previously said. Shell has more conservatively targeted Q2 for start-up.
Meanwhile pictures have emerged showing the work on the FPSO to prepare it for the gas expansion project.
All images are courtesy of Øystein Berge – check them out below.
© Oystein Berge Pierce, while lies around 165 miles east of Aberdeen, has historically been an oil-producing field, with associated gas being compressed and reinjected.
The new project will allow for associated gas to be exported via a new pipeline to the St Fergus terminal in Aberdeenshire.
The field, which was first brought online in 1999, lies 165miles east of Aberdeen and is owned 92.52% by Shell, with the remaining 7.48% held by Ithaca Energy.
The partners took a final investment decision (FID) on the project in 2019.
Shell did not disclose at the time any details of expected gas volumes or the cost of the project, but is on record as saying breakeven costs are $20 per barrel, which makes Pierce an attractive development in the current oil price environment.
© Supplied by All photos courtesyWhen it took FID in 2019, Shell said the new project would increase production to 30,000 barrels per day.
Prior to the Haewene Brim departing Pierce, NSTA figures showed the field had been producing around 20,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day in September.
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