5th

Offshore

SSSSICN

11:

South

Eost

FLOATING

OPERATIONAL

21-24

Asia

PRODUCTION

February

19S3

]2933

FACILITIES

PERFORMANCE OF THE BUCHAN FIELD

AND OFFSHORE

LOADING

A A Mierus
BP Petroleum
Development
United
Kingdom

Singapore

FLOATING

PRODUCTION

SYSTEM

Limited

ABSTRACT
This
paper
describes
the operational
history
to date
of the Euchan
Field
in
the British
Sector
of the North
Sea.
The development
is based
on subsea
commanifold
pletions
connected
to a floating
production
facility
via a subsea
and a tensioned
multiple
riser
system.
Stabilised
crude
oil
is exported
from
the platform
to a tanker
via a subsea
pipeline
and a CALM busy.
Operational
problems
and successes
are discussed.
The Field
is operated
by BP Petroleum
Development
Limited
on behalf
of the Buchan
Field
Joint
Venture
Partners.
The

paper

concludes

floating
production
It
is suggested
that
conversion
than
a
loading
system
with

that

even

in

the

hostile

environment

of

the

North

Sea

system
is a viable
method
of producing
marginal
fields.
a purpose
built
platform
would
be a better
proposition
such as was used for
Ruchan.
Careful
selection
of
the
respect
to weather
conditions
is essential.

FIGURE

1:

BUCJ4AN ALPHA PRODIKHON

11-68

PIATFORM

over
0.1 md - 2 dcrcies
(Figure
3).
saturation
??om 6-15% and Nater
ran~e
thickness
is about
4001m(maximum) .

FIGURE

3:

In the
values

central
horst
porosity
are hisn
at 65-70%.

values
tiet
oay

BUCHAN WELL LOCATIONS

THE 8ucHAN

,ru

FII!LO

1.3.3

I
I

LCOCNO
.
---

-m

,mIOOOc-

-m..

/////

--

- --

@b ML,

0!,

0!...

.,.

I
I
S*.

This
central
area
is bounded
by
120m,
average
permeability
3
penetrated
by one well.
It is
place
in the central
horst
with
The
whole
reservoir
is highly
7,506
psig
at datum
(2805
mss).
MMSTB (without
secondary
recovery)
horst
oil-in-place.

flank

area

af

much

poorer

quality

(net

pay

md and water
saturation
85%) which
has
been
estimated
that
370 MISTS are
contained
in
only
38 MMSTB in the much larger
flank
area.
over-pressured
with
an initial
pressure
of
Recoverable
reserves
were estimated
at 50
which
represents
approximately
14% of the

At
the
initial
sta~es
of develo~ment
many factors
aF+ecting
the
reservoir
were unclear
- in particular,
the extent
to which
the matrix
would
contribute
to overall
production
had not been defined.
It was,
however,
assumed
that
the matrix
would
contribute,
and that
the Field
would
produce
at a ?eak
of
72,000
3PD with
an average
maximum daily
rate
of 48,000
BPD
rate
(when

11-70

SPE1243?

INTRODUCTION
Field
is located
aooroximately
160km ENE af Aberaeen
and 55
km
It was
disField
in water
cbout
1 15m deep
(Figure
2! .
Forties
+urther
and
!$74 by the Transworld
Group
and
Texac~,
August
covered
in
Field.
wells
were drilled
between
then and 1976 to delineate
the
appraisal
sp ,etroleum
~evelapm,ent
+armed
into
the llcence
in early
1977 and teak
over

The
wNW

9ucnan
of the

as
Operator
21/1
with
an

the

0+

The

development.

extension

into

FIGURE

Black

the

LOCATION

Field

lies

within

Block

AT BLOCK 21/1

t
?\
\

O@

~-o
--- ...o
SHETLANU

of

20/5.

BUCHAN FIELD

2:

bulk

FRIGG
T

~o

%
o

u
1

&g

9*

BERYL

,$.
I

PIPER
I*

MAUREEN

CLAYMOREO

TARTANy
,(

58011

t
cHANi-Fi!E-

El!ETEs\

ABERDEEN
SCOTLAND

570r!

\
.

BUCHAN

FIELD

.
v~.
/

,r\ .

-w

59

Kms
I,

LOCATION

\
P

AT BLOCK

21/1

THE RESERVOIR
The

main

Bucnan

Fluviatile
a
these
tured,

reservoir
sandstone
fractures

has a complex
pre-Cretaceous
histary
and comprises
It
is extensively
fracprobably
of Devonian
age.
ranges
having
a marked
effect
on permeability
which

11-69

SPE124~3

downtime

caused
by weather,
equipment
maintenance
and tanker
changeover
was
This
production
would
be mointcined
for
obout
1!4 years
taken
into
account)
.
about
five
~with an anticipated
field
life
of
before
starting
to decline,
when
reservoir
In
order
to keep production
at a reasonable
rate
years.
and to increase
total
recovery
by about
8 MMST8,
it
qt-essures
had declined,
Becouse
of the nature
of the
proposed
to install
gas lift
facilities.
was
platform
reservoir
and because
o? the constraints
imposed
by the production
c3n?iguration,
pressure
maintenance
by water
or gas injectian
was not considered
to be feasible.
From

the

foregoing

cult
drilling
marginal
field

DEVELOPMENT

it

can

be

seen

conditions
and
with
considerable

that

with

this

complex

uncertain
commercial

reservoir,

recovery,
risk.

made

with
Buchan

aiffia

truly

SCHEME

Because
of this
commercial
risk
ond the foreseen
short
necessary
for
the development
to proceed
as quickly
was
minimise
To this
end a fiaatifig
capital
investment.
--..--+-,4
a
rig:
utilising
a ecmver.=u
=emi=subR?e~sA- .h~a drilling

life
of the Field
it
as possible
and
to
-A,.-+< -m
Syst!?n! ,
prvuutib.wu.
subsea
wells
and offThis
meant
that
4).

shore
loading
were chosen
for
the development
(Figure
the drilling
of the wells,
the installation
of the subsea
pipelines
the conversion
of the semi-submersible
and
the
loading
buoy
and
could
all
proceed
in parallel
thus minimising
the total
time
required
first
Qil
production.

and the
tankers
befare

In
the event,
mainly
due to difficulties
encountered
in the canversian
of
These were
the development
exceeded
budget
and pragramme.
the drilling
rig,
originally
set at Q135 million
and 30 months
but the final
cost
was same 40%
helped
by the
Nevertheless,
greater
and the programrne
was 20 months
late.
increase
in oil
prices,
the development
has proved
ta be an economic
proposition.

PRODUCTION

AND LOADING

The

production

Buchan

SYSTEMS
wells

are

all

sub

sea;

faur
drilled
thraugh
a template
satellite.
off-template
and three
to
manifold
an the template
and
then
~ep=r=tor
trgin
on the
platfann.
via
indiviciuai
4 risers

te a three
st=~e
The
three
Flow
from
the wells
is controlled
by chokes
on the
platform.
for
stage
separator
train
is designed
for
72,000
BPD and provision
is made
All
gas is flared.
draw off
of formation
water.

below
the production
The
oil
flows
from

platform,
the wells

one just
a subsea

and
The
degassed
crude
is pumped through
meters
dawn the
12 export
riser
via
the subsea
manifold,
to
the
then,
the export
Line and the CALM buoy,
tanker.
The 12 subsea
export
line
terminates
at a manifold
beneath
the buoy,
at about
1.9 km from the platto which
it
is connected
by a flexible
hose,
form.
The CALM buoy (Catenary
Anchor
Leg Moaring)
is 15m in diameter
and is
through
360
under
the
to allow
the moored
tanker
to weathervane
designed
action

of

wind

Two tankers,
for
exclusive
baliast

and

and

tide.

each of 100,700
DWT, were
use of the ~uchan
Field.
deliver

crude

to

parts

in

converted
They carry
the

11-71

UK and

to bow mooeing
and loading
30,000
tons of segregated
North

West

Europe.

..
T

.. . .

11-72

PRODUCTION, EXPORT AND SERVICE RISER ASSEMBLY

_.

BUCliAN GUIDE ARM SPIDER

AND RISER ARRAN-MEW

-[

Ill kKVOH1f14SEll
,CW.lC+iEfl$ 10FlltL LltC.Kb
10 Wm9tlcn 00?4
R13E13TLN$IONEHS
IIW!I1L OEC$.I

XP(JII1 ftiscti CAMI~tN~I=*

\ PHHW:;l

HISt R

,bN,,Lm co, L*H

, ........
..
nlskn
..-

.,.-

7jJY/.@@~

._Gllll>t AIW

SWMM II VPILALI

~.

?GL.Y

FIII1WICI1ON
mm w
alND&
SVAIXU
LVb

H.WMA1
IiAslltl
Rlsins
lWIWII

WAWIP

4,
UNVICE IWCRS
II EAw\

Pa

t WWI1
nlskn --

.411

I* S&nt:llx

(WIDE

Mtavv
WA1 ,
,W,rl

AflM SPIDER {TYPICAL)

txrolll tllstn /.
, m, vtiflSAL
JOIN1

-0

m
U

N
&W

FIGURE 5:

BUCHAN RISER ASS~LY

i
.

Si,lJSEA
UAN46(11U

4.2.1

PIATFORM

OPERATIONS

In
general
the plant
and equipment
on the platform
has
operated
satisfacin mind that
not all
of it was new equipment
installed
when
carily
- bearing
the conversion
from a drilling
rig was carried
out.
?~e

ean--atinn

nlmnihne
~~rforrned
very
wel~,
the main problem
being
one of
r--,.,--very
nigh
with
a c~id
plant
or when operated
at
during
StOrt-1J13
Foaming
is controlled
by the injection
of small
quantirates.
production
ties
of antifoam
typically
2-5 ppm.

==W-,=-*,~

foaming

25,000
BPD
of
Tine
effluent
treatment
plant
(ETP)
is designed
to pracess
water
to give
40 ppm oil
in water
quality
before
discharge
ta
the
produced
Water
fram the production
and test
separators
is routed
to G deg=~sifi~
sea.
vessel
then
through
an inclined
plate
separatar
befare
being
finally
polished in a four
cell
gas flatation
separator
unit.
The

ETP is

proving
rather
more troub~esome
due principa~~y
to the
extreiiiel
y
High asphaltene
content
of the crude
tight
oil
water
emulsians
being
farmed.
and
low PH of produced
water
contribute
significantly
to this.
In order
to
water
emulsion
breaker
are
oil
achieve
separation
high
dosage
rates
of
The process
is further
hindered
by low temperrequired,
typically
150 ppm.
Difficulty
in achieving
discharge
quality
ature
oil
from satellite
wells.
water
is attributed
in some degree
to the high
residue
of emulsion
breaker
Alternative
in
the water
phase which
stabilises
the oil
in water
emulsion.
chemicals
are being
investigated.
The
with

production
biocide
to

inhibitors

are

and effluent
treatment
processes
are
prevent
build-up
of SRBS.
In addition
used

to

limited

extent

as

periodically
corrosion

and

treated
scale

required.

There
were
fears
that
the riser
system
would
pase problems
due
ta
its
camplex
nature
but this
has nat proved
to be the
case
(Figure
5).
The
production
and export
riser
is a complicated
system
comprising
one
central
~~. expw!
-----~
.
-....-*,.-A-A
h..
+-Afl
~~s=~~,
produce~gh~
of
wh~ch
Qre
far
u f-i~=~
awl
8 Uwlawmu
u,
bc$mn tion
and
two are service
risers.
These 4 risers
are
restrained
by
guide
funnels
at 25
intervals
down the main export
riser.
The export
riser
is
supported
by eight
60K tensioners.
As ane can see frcm
the illustration
it
Although
na major
problems
have
is a very
complex
arrangement
(Figure
6).
been
experienced
with
the system
it
is very
weather
sensitive
especially
in
relation
ta the aperational
requirements
of the platform
itself.
n

9ecfiuse

....

necessary
18 metres

Authority
it
is
of the Cmstmints
placed GpGE 2s by tbs Certifyhg
to bring
the platform
up to what
is known as survival
draught
of
to permit
sufficient
clearance
under
the base of the platfotm
deck

during
extreme
conditions
of waves and wind.
Further,
we are permitted
to
remain
in production
only
with
the platfarm
at a draught
between
22 and
21
metres
and can anly
leave
the riser
bundle
cannected
to a minimum draught
of
Riser
20
metres.
retrieval
operations
are also
limited
by the amount
of
headroom
available
above
the riser
bundle
in the moonpool
area
and in
this
connection
the platform
heave
has to be taken
into
account.
It can therefore
be
seen
riser
that
the state
of the weather
has an important
bearing
on
As it can take
up to
thirty
operations
and in consequence
on production.
hours
to pull
the tatal
riser
bundle
we are very
deoendent
on weather
forecasting,
and in fact
during
the winter
we have a resident
weather
forcaster
on board
the platform.
In
practice
we shut
dawn and recaver
the production
risers
on a
cieteriaraforecast
ting
of wind and sea conditions
af worse
than 35-40
knats
and
of
We also
remove
the export
riser
gooseneck
and
seas up to 12 metres
maximum.

11-74

.
1

m
T1

m
Iv
-f=

w
W

FIGURE 6:

BUCHAJJ ALPHA -

MOOWOOL AREA

Only
hose
at
this
time
in order
to provide
additional
headroom.
under
weather
conditions
when the platform
heave
becomes
greater
than
5
extreme
metres
and when there
is a requirement
to come to survivial
draught
of
18
However,
riser.
me~res
do
we in proctice
unlarch
and recover
the export
have
riser
operating
envelopes
developed
from the original
stress
analysis
.
Tine prc?cticci~
&anSideFCitimS
Ci7 hSGVe
never
been requirea
to be applied.
and
personnel
access
have generally
become the main determining
influences.
During
the two and a half
years
of operation
we have pulled
the
production
risers
five
times
due to adverse
weather
and the export
riser
only
once.
The
hydraulic
control
umbilicals
have not been pulled
on account
of weather.
It should
be nated
that
while
we may not fully
disconnect
until
heave
levels
reconnection
cannot
normally
start
until
the heave
is
less
are quite
high,
than
0.5 metres.
Such relatively
calm conditions
are
required
in order
to
stab
the risers
accurately
into
the connectors
on the manifold
and
waiting
an these
conditions
can cause
additional
downtime.
The
response
of the platform
itself
to its
environment
has been
more
than
being
more stable
than was predicted.
The platform
is moored
satisfactory,
by
ten 70nTn diameter
wires
each about
3% km long attached
to 18 or
22
ton
As on active
mooring
system
is employed
it
is thereDelta
Flipper
anchors.
fore
possibie
to
maintain
the piat+onn
...
. --h:
--y
in Gn the w+.A4*.FI
~.i~
&t,
**, &a,
..*!!,
e~r!m
-.-.
keeping
the platfazm
in position
without
very
severe
conditions.

on station
over
the
mani+oid
by
..-h..
p=ttern
hQ~ ~~rfQ~d
Weli ;
..- .-,
undue tensions
in the wire
even in

The
platform
is
of Pentagone
design
- the same design
as
the
ill-fated
Alexander
Keilland.
The Keilland
accident
happened
while
8uchan
Alpha
was
being
converted
and led to a very
extensive
structural
design
review
and
inspection
This
resulted
in
a
of the platform
to confirm
its
soundness.
number
large
of relatively
minor
modifications
such as reshaping
of
stiffeners,
A number af minor
defects
removal
of redundant
penetrations,
etc.
were also
identified
and in arder
to monitor
the condition
af these
defects
and
of
gramnes
1980.
any

sign

the structure
in general,
have been operated
since
It is encouraging
of propagation

to
since

state
that

continuous
the platform
that
time.

none

NOT and visuai

went on station
af

the

lagged

inspection
proin
September

defects

has

shown

Becouse
of
stability
considerations
careful
weight
control
is
exercised.
Every
item
of stores
and equipment,
including
fuel
and water,
coming
on to
the
plotform
or
being
off-loaded
is weighed
and the
vertical
centre
of
gravity
is calculated
daily
to ensure
that
it
remains
within
the laid
down
rL.--1-..,-.,
.
~1.A--a
~s+a
*jcr
~hamna=
in
~Fg@t.
iiiiii~~.
Illi=
LLJA&L4
blb~=ln
is
UAaW
uws,w
w,
baa
w, ,,
,~we

------SUBSEA WERATIONS
Apart

from

problems

with

downhole

safety

valves

which

are

dealt

with

later,

the total
subseo
system
has performed
satisfactorily.
The subsea
volves
and
riser
connecters
water
are operated
by a direct
hydraulic
system
using
a
based
fluid.
The fluid
is supplied
from the platform
to the subsea
system
four
through
reasonable
retrievable
65 x % care
umbilicals
providing
a
percentage
far
redundancy.
No problems
have been experienced
with
the WKM
actuators
or the three
valves
although
we have experienced
severe
galvanic
corrosion
of the initially
fitted
cadmium plated
carbon
steel
crimp
connechoses.
These
tors
on the umbilical
cores
and individual
subsea
hydraulic
connectors
are being
replaced
by ones made of 316-S12
stainless
steel
(BS
970 pt.4).
As there
are about
1,000
of them,
this
is a lengthy
and expensive
task.

11-76

spE~2433

The valves
used
been experienced
with
dawnnole
safety
valves.
t~~ing
retrievable
the
a nc!
Suchan
completions
are Ccmcc ~~~=~-~~?,
have been attributed
to mud solidslwell
debris
entering
the interfailures
nal chambers
curing
completion
and resulting
in sticking
of the moving
parts.
Two DHSVS failed
in the open position
necessitating
early
remedial
action
as
the
UK Department
of Energy
reauires
that
wells
must have an operable
DHSV
Xmas tree.
On another
well
the
wnicn
will
close
in case of damage to the
In each of
these
sea 1s
in the DHSV failed
and we were
unable
to open it.
involving
cases
central
of
the well
was re-established
by wireline
work
locking
open the tubing
retrievable
OHSV and installing
a wireline
retrievable
DHSV. One of these
wells
was a satellite
well
which
necessitated
bringThe two
in a semisub
to do the wireline
work - an expensive
business.
i ng
Problems
tAe
in

others

have

were

template

wells

and

the

wireline

work

was

done

from

the

olat+orm.

The
special
Bucnan wireline
BOP Stack
is unfortunately
rather
large.
It
weighs
37 tonnes
and is cannected
back to the surface
via
a two core
riser.
Because
the
moonpool
of the size
of the BOP and the space
restrictions
in
there
is considerable
risk
ef ifip~ct
with
the productim
risers,
proarea,
duction
has to be shut
down and the riser
bundle
pulled
before
the BOP Stack
can be run.
This
causes
significant
production
downtime.
In
December
1982 we shut
down to wireline
a template
well
to insert
a DHVS.
Although
the wireline
work taak
only
two days we were out of production
from
the 8th December
until
the
16th February
due mainly
to weather
deloying
the
running
and pulling
of the wireline
BOP Stack.
Again,
we shut down in August
1983
to fit
a wireline
retrievable
OHSV.
The actual
wireline
work took
2
retrieve
the BOP Stack,
6
days.
Added
to this
it
took 2~2 days to run and
days
to pull
and run the riser
bundle
and there
were
10 days spent
waiting
This was a total
of nearly
21 days against
12 planned.
We are
on weather.
for
currently
looking
at the development
of a subsea
lubricator
assembly
wireline
work which
we can run and pull
while
the riser
bundle
is in place.
On onother
satellite
well
we last
control
of the DHSV due to failure
of
the
hydraulic
control
line
below
the tubing
hanger.
We had to bring
in a semisub
to
kill
the well,
pull
the tubing
and recomplete
the well.
Because
of the
overpressured
nature
of the reservoir
it
is necessary
to use
high
gravity
kill
fluid
of SG 2.09.
Because
we believe
that
the use of high
solids
mud
was the cause
of foilure,
through
sticking,
of other
DHSVS we used a solids
free
Calcium
Bromide/Zinc
Bromide
fluid
for
this
workover.
This
is
very
expensive
and has been retained
and reconditioned
The
new tubing
retrievable
DHSV installed
in this
which
we believe
will
be less
subject
to failure.
A
three
chamber
saturation
diving
enable
us to orovide
diver
access
far
maintenance
and inspection.

MOORING AND LOADING

spread
to the

is installed
subsea
manifold

on

required.
TRDp-~A

the
platform
and template

to
wells

OPERATIONS

-A
Was
it
real is=u
weather
sensitive

s--L
tkfit
the l~ading
I I VIII Gsle
Start
. ...
and would
probably
be the most

tional

and

continuity

far
future
use i%
well
is a
Cameo

this

has

proved

to

be

the

operation
severe

would
constraint

be
very
on opera-

case.

moored
to
the
buoy by a 225
long 21
circumference
nylon
The
tanker
is
hawser
fitted
with
flotation
callars.
A length
of 3 chafing
chain
is incorporated
at the tanker
end of the hawser
to take
care
of wear where
the mooring passes
over
the bow of the tanker
(Figures
7 and 8).
Tension
is measured

bv means
assembly.

of

a
It

load
was

cell

incorporated

initially

expected

into
that

71-77

the

hawser

the

tanker

stopper
would

plug
be

retaining
able

to

SPE12433

moor

CALM

BUCltAN FIELD TANKER

LOAOING FACILITV

1
4

940WOW
If LOAIIUIWI

,,0S;
EIUI
MANOLIWG
UN( 1

CALM

lov

,,,

L mm.
a .2

WINKEN
LIGHTS

1/

*
--,,

011 *LIH

,OA,,

10

N,,

,,ubE

I ANt. tll

:-7
\ 2,MHUW
*,,.D..
J-%s--4d.
....9-
/:
PI?ELINE EMO
MANIFOLD
,

. ....-** -

Iv
P

,,-

,.

..

Min-liw-%iik

FIGURE 7:

BU(:tlAN TANKER LOADIING SYSTEM

DtUIC.41L11
l* N#f HS
UAEILW
At4G81S
M& EUSt.
INIC,,A,,

BUOV

6.1.1

reached
the seas
._ -!.-L-.,
+
in
sea states
of up to 3.Om (sig)
and remain
moored
until
,, UVA!I=
Found to be the case with
the TJanKera
This
has not been
4.5m(sig).
until
re-moor
when the seas
reach
about
4m and being
unable
to
unmoor
to
In practice
more than
just
sea state
has to be
this
has reduced
to 2-2.5m.
Pr~duction
is shut
down
as
the
guide.
tensions
considered
and we use hawser
85
tonnes
and
the
tanker
the hose disconnected
at
at a tensian
of 75 tonnes,
Unberthed
at a tensian
af 100 tonnes.

FIGURE

- ..---

.
.-

,-..

8:

-- .
:---

BUCHAN TAN~

LOAOING

a--

-z+

----..

SYSTEM

.**
. ..

11-79

--

-----

.
,.

---

SPE1243S

The
had

nylon
hawsers
failures
two

service
although
in the first
year
we
fcilure
nominal
of
far
less
than
the
in use far
five
months
while
the
laad
of
540
tonnes.
One hawser
had been
On inspection
the
manufacsecond
failed
a;ter
oniy
ten cloys light
usage.
whereas
turer
ciaimed
that
the hawser
snowed signs
OF high
cyclic
loading
normai
loads.
In
record
the
of tension
measurement
in the tanker
snowed
we

practice
month

in

3ecause
lited

cobalt
nylon
istics

have

cc

changed

winter

given

good

indicated

out

loads

hawsers

weather

and

after

three

o~portunity

months

usage

in

summer

and

one

permitting.

,.
:*+1-ndldPmd
Q ~~~~~Qn
of
stelL[1c5 Ck1G7a
W=
.,1.1
-----rapid
wear of L Chaifi
chain
which
improved
the life
significantly.
We now use a covering
of
We have also
adaed
75
double
which
has given
a further
improvement.
strop
at
the
buoy
end
of
the
hawser
which
has
improved
the characterf~~i~ita~e~
hawser
cd
the
string
whilst
the
tcnker
is mcred
of
of

Further,
because
existing
changeaut.
of doubts
about
the accuracy
of the
measuring
device
we have been experimenting
with
a
strain
gauged
tension
While
we have
shackle
in the chafe
chain
outboard
of the bow of the tanker.
had
same results
we have had problems
with
the signal
line
from the shackle
which
is subject
to damage during
maoringlunmooring
operations.
As mentioned
at the time
major
one
access

far

previously
of its
problem

the

loading

installation
the buoy

regular

maintenance

is
difficult,
etc.
regular
occurrence

buoy

was
has

is
of

performed
such

requiring
during
the

one

sea
winter

an

IM~DC~

the

designed

largest

generally

in
os

CALM buoy and

Apart
from

use.
predicted

although

greasing,
bolt
tightening,
inspection,
states
of less
than 2m (maximum)
- not
months.

as

In January
1982 we had a significant
failure
when the pad-eye,
to which
the
was torn
a++ the end
0+
shackle
on the buoy end of the hawser
is attached,
In order
to effect
repairs
the arm,
weighing
some
12%
the
mooring
arm.
This
caused
a
had to be removed,
tonnes,
taken
ashare
and then
replaced.
remova 1
production
shutdown
of some 47 days with
bad weather
delaying
arm
and

re-installation.

~~e

~~=y

,+=~ ~h~~~

.moorin~,

~~rn~,

~~~d~ng

and

a balance

arm

set

at

approxi-

They are supported

centrally
by a 54 taper
roller
mately
120
intervals.
bearing
and the outer
ends each have a pair
of two wheeled
bogies,
which
run
on a track
on the periphery
of the buoy.
These mooring
arm bogies,
which
are
incorporate
a lug which
impinges
on the lip
of the buoy
bolted
to the arm,
to prevent
the arm from lifting
with
the vertical
angular
pull
of the hawser
retaining
bolts
Examination
subsequent
to the incident
indicated
that
the
failed
resulting
in the loss
of both bogies.
This
in turn
permitted
the arm
~~
e~~e in eent=et
with
the deck Qf the buoy where
it became
jammed against

... . .

The tanker,
a lifting
pad-eye.
under
the effect
of wind and current,
swung
round
and
eventually
took a horizontal
angular
pull
on the end of the
arm
(for
which
it was not designed)
causing
the failure,
just
inboard
of
the
of the
15 x 3 steel
arm under
a load of some 40 tonnes.
mooring
pad-eye,
The
bogie
retaining
bolts
which
were of
recovered
and appeared
to have suffered
diffusion
resulting
from corrosion
or
bolts
now used are Manel
500 - unplated.
It

is

of

the

Considef-ed
hawser

pa ted
and
the 8uchan
The
tanker

i2
is

that

which

the
im~osed

an improved,
buoy.

diameter
the part

+Oliure

fioat:ng
which

vertical

stronger

0+

cadmium
brittle
possibly

~~eseboits
loads

restraint

on

the

system

plated
ASTM 07
steel
were
failure
caused
by
hydrogen
The
the cadmium
plating.

was

ifiiticted

oogies
has

higher
now been

hose used to convey

the oil
from
one would
consider
most vulnerable

11-80

by

the

to

than

s,~ctdh:,mj
antici-

instailed

OUOY to
wave and

on

the
boat

However,

damage.
had

hose

annual

on Buchan,
apart
Hoses are,
at a time wnen for

oasis,

vessel
suitable
nyion
reinforced
and dc net buckle
We

did

hose;

from small
however,

failure.

available.

We

kinkable

hoses

other
believe

this

which

success

have

is

no steel

due

in

to

their

the

use

of

construction

permanently.

however

have

especially

leaks
at flanges,
we have never
approximately
changed
out on an
buoy
maintenance
reasons
there
is
o

the

same
first

cancern
two

about

lengths

the

performance

beneath

of

buoy

the

0+
the
bending
maverrtent
caused
by the buoy mations.
Narth
Sea Operators
change
such hoses
after
two winters

the

ufid=FbueY

which
bear
the brunt
Because
of this
most
The Buchan
in use.

hose
system
this
we
buoy
and
was installed
in mid 1979 and because
of
the
attempted
an
underbuoy
base changeout
in the spring
of 1981 prior
to
This
attempt
was frustrated
by weather
as was a
commencement
of
production.
We then
accepted
programmed
shutdown.
second
try
in September
1981 using
a
going
through
a third
winter
after
consulting
the
manufacturer
risk
of
the
surviving
but,
without
who
advised
that
the hose stood
a gad
chcfice
d
could
not be more specific.
data,
The hose was
eventually
changed
in June
1982 and appeared
visually
in perfect
condition.
by
the
This
was confirmed
manufacturer
ta whom it was returned
for
examination.

OPERATIONALEFFICIENCY
is
made
Buchqn
Forecasting
of
operationa~
efficiency
?o~ = systsm
like
extremely
difficult
by the effects
of weather
on the Platform
and the Mooring and
Loading
system.
Prior
to
production
the downtime
was
categorised
into
three
major
items:

1.

Effects

2.

Lost

time

due

to

tanker

3.

Lost

time

due

to

platform/subsea

There

was

af

weather

no weather

on buoy,

tanker

and

change-overs

history

for

riser

and

repairs.

problems
the

Buchan

operations.

unrelated
location

to
and

weather.

the

assessment

had

to be made on the limited

data
available
from Forties
- about
55 km distant.
tim
~f ~7~ ~~
arrived
at with
a minimum
of 50%
An overall
annual
~pereting
January
and February
and a maximum of 90% in June,
July
and
in
December,
August.
In our first
year
of operation,
kiay 19811MoY
1982,
we achieved
an
These
peroperating
time
of some 52% and in the second
year
this
was 51%.
are
to
some extent
distorted
by the shutdawn
for
buoy
works
in
centages
January/February
1982 and the weather
effects
on wireline
works
in
December
1982 and January
1983.
If these
are
discounted
the
efficiency
improves
to
the
high
fifties
for
two years
when the weather
was worse
than
the expected
average.
We believe
that
the most we can expect
to achieve
from our existing
system
would
be about
62-63%.
Because
we
did not meet our expected
time
efficiency
and
because
of
problems
we
have
experienced
with
our subsea
wells
we did
not
meet
---A..-6*-*
31,200
bpd and 30,700
In our first
year
we averaged
pT UUWG.*1$ +nr-nm+e
.. ~---in

the

second

RESERVOIR

year.

BEHAVIOUR

The
reservoir
has
behaved
carried
out
on the platform
with
production
test
along
data

the
our
bpd

collected

showed

generally
using
data.
rapid

as

predicted.

flowing
During
decline

11-81

in

and

clased-in

the

early

reservoir

Monitoring
wellhead
part

of

has
been
aressures

production

pressure

indicative

the

However,
rate
of decline
a~ainsz
the
of production
from the fractures
only.
cumulative
?roduction
has reduced
progressively
thus
indicating
in-$low
from
the matrix.
Material
balance
calculations
have
indicated
that
the estimated
We
realistic.
figure
o; Sa million
barrels
for
recoverable
reserves
remains
~ha~
this
have
had
water
breakthrough
fram
two we~~= b~t dO flGt
CC~S~=~~
will
affect
the
ultimate
recoverable
oil.

FUTURE

PLANS

this
There
is
and
to be one further
major
change
in the Ouchan operation
to increase
ultimate
recavery.
will
be the installation
of gas lift equipment
It
is considered
impractical
to install
this
on location
and
the
platform
will
be brought
inshore
during
the fourth
quarter
of 1984
for
these
works
ta
The facilities
comprise
a gas turbine
driven
three
stage
carriea
out.
be
compressor
rated
at 15 mmscf/d
with
a
discharge
pressure
o; 2500 psig.
The
will
be dried
using
molecular
sieves
and start
up nitrogen
will
be progas
vided
by a pressure
swing
absorption
unit.
Gas lift
will
of course
impose
requirement
far
eight
additional
risers
for
gas injection
to the wells.
the
These
will
be of 2 diameter
and will
be attached
piggy
back
fashion
to
the
existing
production
risers.
Careful
design
work is required
in
this
and
running
to
minimise
the additional
time
requirement
for
pulling
area
risers.
are completed
with
two side
pocket
mandrels
at 1355 and 1370
mss
in
a single
orifice
type
gas
lift
valve
is installed.
This
simplified
It does
oppraach
is designed
to
eliminate
the need for wireline
servicing.
however
require
a very
high
kick-off
pressure,
resulting
in o
cafnpressar
discharge
of 2500 psig.
Wells
which

It is expected
that
reservoir
by about

the use of
hn
STBO to

gas lift
will
58 mm STBO.

increase

the

recovery

from

the

confusions
In
papers
cribe
the

like
this
it
is much easier
problems
and their
solutions

Nevertheless
we believe
our first
two and a half
late
in commissioning,
being
met,
the operation

... ..

Buchan
years

to
of

and perhaps
more interesting
than
the successes.

be a success
operation.

and

we have

learnt

to

des-

much

from

Despite
over
budget
and
and profitable.
would
have been

the
development
being
running
well
production
targets
not
is
viable
In retrospect
it
could
well
be that
a purpose
built
platform
better
than a
conversion
and
a loading
system
less
sensitive
to weather
conditions
would
have
improved
time
efficiency.
The cost
of
accessing
subsea
wells
must also
be
reduced
by some means.
It must be added,
however,
that
the capital
cost
of
the
project
was recovered
less
than
two years
after
commencement
of production.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The
author
wishes
to thank
British
Petroleum
?!-C and its
Partners
in
the
Buchan
Fieid
Joint
Venture,
Cinarterhall
Oil
Limited,
Clyde
petroleum
PLC,
Gi3AL Petroieum
PLC,
Exploration
Limited, St. Joe Petroieum
(UK)
Lochiel
Corp. ,
Sulpetro
Limited,
Transworld
petroieum
Texaco
North
Sea UK Company,
(UK)

Limited

this

gaoer.

and

Tricentrai

Oil

Corporation

pLC

for

permission

to

produce