NOPSEMA gives green light for Minerva field closure

Australia’s National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) has approved BHP’s plan for the cessation of petroleum-related activities on the Minerva field off Australia. 

According to data from NOPSEMA, BHP submitted a plan for cessation of the Minerva field in June 17, 2019.

The Minerva Development produces hydrocarbon gas and liquids from the Minerva gas field with production starting in 2005 with production expected to continue to decline with end of field life predicted around 2020 with cessation activities to commence thereafter.

The Minerva field is situated within production license VIC-L22 and the pipeline is located in VIC-PL33, both located in the Otway Basin in 60 meters of water approximately 11 kilometers southwest of Port Campbell, Victoria.

The field produces hydrocarbon gas and liquids from the Minerva reservoir via two subsea vertical wells. The hydrocarbon gas and liquids are then transported onshore to the Minerva Gas Plant via a common pipeline for processing.

Operations in the offshore area include periodic routine inspection, maintenance and repair of subsea flowlines, wellheads, manifolds, subsea trees, and the pipeline.

The cessation phase is expected to begin within 18 months of production cessation, with the flushing of the flowline and cutting and plugging expected to take approximately one month.

During the cessation phase a number of monitoring activities may be undertaken in preparation for the final decommissioning of the field.

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