Floating Storage and Offloading Systems (FSO) for Storage and Export of Maya Crude Oil: Concept, Project Execution, and Operations
Authors: Sircar S. , Diri C.M. , Jones E.G. , Speirs A.P. , Salas D. 
Published: October 2008

Pemex Exploración y Producción (PEP) is undertaking a major upgrade and expansion of the Cantarell oil field in the Gulf of Mexico in order to curtail gas flaring, increase crude oil production and exports, and to improve the reliability of existing facilities. This expansion program includes implementation of two Floating, Storage, and Offloading systems (FSOs). This paper reviews the existing crude oil export system, the need for more storage and export tanker berths to handle the planned increases in oil exports, the concepts of the two FSOs and the selection, engineering, procurement, conversion, commissioning and initial operational experience of the first FSO Ta'Kuntah. The key aspects of this FSO include:first permanently-moored FSO in the Gulf of Mexico12 month schedule between award and first oilthe 2nd largest operating FSO with 2.3 million barrel net crude oil storage capacitydesigned for uninterrupted (zero downtime) operation for 15 yearshighest crude oil receiving rate at 800,000 BOPDoffloads crude oil simultaneously to two export tankers moored in tandem and side-by-sidehighest combined offloading rate of 120,000 BPH

Initial operational experience showed that the FSO is successfully receiving and offloading Maya crude at the maximum design rates. The second FSO is currently in a concept development stage.

Cantarell Field Development and Modernization

The Cantarell complex comprises four adjacent oil fields known as AKAL, CHAC, KUTZ, and NOHOCH. The fields are located in the Bay of Campeche, Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsular, approximately 80 kilometers north of Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, México in water depths ranging from 35 meters in the south to 40 meters in the north. PEP is the owner and operator of this field. Further details of this field are included in Reference 1. The location of the Cantarell field is shown in Figure 1.

A study was initiated in the spring of 1996 to prepare short term and long term plans for the expansion of the Cantarell field. As part of the short term plan, the goals were to remove existing production bottlenecks, increase production, stop gas flaring and improve equipment reliability. The long-term plan included increasing production from about 1.3 million BOPD in 1998 to 2.4 million BOPD in 2001 and to maximize ultimate crude oil recovery.

Existing Field and Crude Oil Export Facilities

Existing Field Facilities.

Oil is produced at 16 wellhead platforms. First-stage gas-oil separation is performed at several wellhead platforms and the crude oil is stabilized at three production complexes. Stabilized crude oil is transported via pipelines to three offshore tanker berths at the island of Cayo Arcas and to onshore storage tanks at Dos Bocas where part of the production is exported via two offshore tanker berths and the balance is transported inland by pipeline. Crude oil from adjacent fields Ku, Maloob and Zaap is exported through the Cantarell facilities. Light oil production from Ixtoc, Ek-Balam, Pol, Abkatun and other fields is sent by pipeline to Dos Bocas for export and domestic consumption.