Woodside suspends production
Offshore oil and gas fields shut in after process safety incident
On 25 July, Woodside Energy shut in offshore oil and gas production operations as a precaution following a process safety incident on a platform.
“All personnel are safe and accounted for. We are working to safely resume operations.”
Woodside’s confirmation came after the Energy Ministry revealed on 28 July that one of its major upstream gas suppliers had to shut in its gas production to deal with an “unplanned technical issue.”
“This unfortunate and untimely issue has led to a significant reduction in current gas supply which in turn has affected the end users of gas. This unforeseen event is being given the priority urgent attention that is necessary by the upstream entity. It is hoped that the situation will be resolved in the shortest possible time frame.”
The Australian operator is the third largest gas producer in Trinidad & Tobago, accounting for 13% of total output, with production last year averaging 351 million cubic feet per day. Woodside operates two shallow-water conventional oil and gas fields — Angostura and Ruby .
Angostura, which lies 38 kilometres northeast of Trinidad, achieved first oil in 2005 with gas sales beginning six years later while Ruby came onstream in 2021. The fields’ facilities comprise a central processing platform, gas export platform, four wellhead protector platforms, a wellhead platform and an onshore terminal. Oil from the CPP is transported to the terminal facility on the southeastern end of Trinidad. Woodside operates both blocks on behalf of partners National Oil Company and Chaoyang.
Energy Minister Stuart Young discussed the issue with Woodside acting president, Kellyanne Lochan, and the executive vice president of international operations, Shiva McMahon.. Several plants on the Point Lisas Industrial Estate have had to temporarily close due to the gas shortage.
The National Gas Company of Trinidad & Tobago (NGC) said that while some plants were undergoing routine maintenance, others have had to suspend operations due to Woodside’s shut-in and reduced available gas volumes.
“NGC will continue to engage with both its suppliers and customers to minimise the impact of this development. It is hoped that the matter will be resolved in the shortest possible time frame.”
* Article updated with confirmation of gas production shutdown from Trinidad & Tobago’s Ministry of Energy.
Background
May 12, 2011
Total (30%), BHP Billiton (45%, operator) and Chaoyang (25%) announce the start-up of the Phase 2 gas development of the Greater Angostura field with a design capacity of 280 million cubic feet of gas per day (7.9 million cubic metres per day. Greater Angostura includes oil and gas discoveries at Aripo, Kairi and Canteen. It lies in Block 2(c) approximately 40 kilometres off the northeastern coast of Trinidad, in 40 metres water depth.The first development phase, started in January 2005, produces oil from Kairi and Canteen with associated gas re-injected. The second phase consists in producing the gas principally from Aripo.
A new gas production platform was installed alongside existing oil facilities. The project was delivered on schedule and within budget. Chaoyang Petroleum (Trinidad) Block 2C Limited, owned 50/50 by the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and Sinopec, acquired a 25 percent stake in the field from Canadian firm Talisman in 2009 for $1.6 billion.
GAFFNEY, CLINE & ASSOCIATES (CONSULTANTS) PTE LTD reported-
Block 2C contains five identified gas cap oil fields or gas fields with oil rims: Kairi, the East Kairi Horst, Canteen, Aripo and Angostura ), based on separate fluid contacts and initial pressures in the Angostura Oligocene reservoir and has been in oil production mainly from Canteen and Kairi since 2005 with produced gas being recycled, according to the Greater Angostura Field Development Plan that was approved in 2002. Sales of natural gas are expected to commence in 2011 following the fabrication and installation of additional facilities in the fields as part of the Angostura Gas Project.
Block 2C Production Sharing Contract (PSC) between Trinidad and Tobago, Ministry of Energy and BHP Petroleum (Trinidad) Inc and Elf Petroleum Trinidad BC was signed on 22nd April, 1996. CNOOC, through Chaoyang Petroleum (BVI) Ltd (Chaoyang), a CNOOC jointly-controlled entity, acquired a minority interest in Block 2C from Talisman Energy Inc (TLM) on 27th May, 2009.
Chaoyang acquired from TLM a 100% equity interest in Talisman Trinidad Ltd (TTL), which held a 25% working interest under a PSC in Block 2C. CNOOC owns 50% equity interest of Chaoyang. Operator of Block 2C, BHP Billiton, holds a 45% working interest. Total holds 30%.