Tullow plans three Jubilee FPSO shutdowns in 2018

London-based Tullow Oil expects to shut down production from its Jubilee field offshore Ghana three times during 2018 to enable the completion of the FPSO repair works. 

An issue with the turret bearing of the Jubilee FPSO Kwame Nkrumah, which resulted in the need to implement new operating and offtake procedures, utilizing a dynamically positioned shuttle tanker and a storage vessel, was identified in February 2016. Tullow, as the operator of the field, has been working since then to solve it. Tullow’s partners in the field are Kosmos, Anadarko, GNPC, and Petro SA.

In its operational update on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, Tullow said that preparations continued in advance of the planned turret bearing stabilization work in the first quarter of 2018.

According to the company’s update, this work is expected to take place over two shutdown periods, totaling four-to-six weeks. A further planned shutdown of approximately three weeks is expected around year end 2018 to rotate the FPSO to its permanent heading.

Tullow also noted on Wednesday that the Government of Ghana’s approval of the Greater Jubilee Full Field Development Plan in October 2017, allowed Tullow and its partners to prepare for a multi-year incremental drilling program to maximize and sustain oil production and gas export. The plan was designed to develop additional commercial reserves and extend the field production profile.

The initial focus will be the drilling and completion of new wells in the Jubilee unit area that will make use of existing infrastructure, and the completion of a well previously drilled in the Mahogany discovery.

Tullow expects 2018 gross production from the Jubilee field to average 75,800 bopd (net: 26,900 bopd), which takes into account the planned shutdowns associated with the turret remediation work.

Drilling in 2018 

Earlier in January, Tullow secured the Maersk Venturer drillship for drilling operations offshore Ghana, which are expected to start in February 2018. The rig will be used across the TEN and Jubilee fields and has been contracted for up to four years with favorable early termination provisions.

The first well planned is an Ntomme production well in the TEN fields followed by a Jubilee production well located in the north-eastern area of the field. Work is ongoing to finalize the sequence of further wells to optimize output from both the Jubilee and TEN fields.

Tullow said that together with its partners it continues to evaluate the business case for contracting a second rig that would allow the acceleration of drilling on the TEN and Jubilee fields.

Offshore Energy Today Staff