Fast Track Subsea System Solution for the Ceiba Field Development
Authors: Triggs Stephen , Morgan John 
Published: October 2008

Producing subsea equipment for any fast track project can be a challenge but when the field development is some 6,000 miles away in a remote African country with little existing infrastructure, new dimensions are added to the challenge. This paper describes the technical, schedule and logistical issues involved with the provision of a reliable, subsea system solution for the Ceiba Field Development offshore Equatorial Guinea.

Introduction

On October 6, 1999 Triton Energy Limited (Triton), a Dallasbased international oil and gas exploration and production company, announced that they had discovered oil in Block G, approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) off the continental coast of Equatorial Guinea in West Africa in a water depths of approximately 730 metres (2400 feet). Figure 1 shows a field location map. The field development was named "Ceiba" (after a local species of tree) and following a fast track approval process and development Triton successfully produced First Oil from the field to the FPSO Sendje Berge on November 22, 2000 less than 14 months after the initial discovery.

This remarkable achievement was the result of a closely-knit team of selected subcontractors working together in a coordinated global effort. More importantly, the principal contractors were deeply involved in the project from a very early stage, providing valuable input into the planning and execution of the overall project.

The development of the field was initially split into two phases: Early Production System (EPS) and Full Field Development (FFD). However subsequent annotations of the development saw the EPS Phase also termed Phase 1 and the FFD being subdivided into 'phases' of which Phase 1A was the first. Future phases of the development are outside the scope of this paper.

As one of the subcontractors selected at the very start of this field development, Cameron was challenged to provide a subsea system solution in less than six months in order to meet the demanding EPS development schedule set by Triton.

Throughout the EPS phase, successful exploration drilling continued in parallel with the well completion program and such was the drive and dedication of the Triton team that they initiated the Phase 1A development well in advance of the EPS first oil date. One of the big drivers for this was to ensure a seamless transition of work from EPS to the more extensive Phase 1A and thereby ensure optimization of vessels and resources in a remote part of the world.

In August 2001 Amerada Hess acquired Triton but they have maintained Triton's fast track development philosophy on the Ceiba Field and retained the majority of the project team members. All future Client references to Triton in this paper fully acknowledge that acquisition.

Early Production System

Background.

Immediately following their decision to proceed with the Ceiba field development, Triton initiated a fast track front end engineering design (FEED) study for the early production system (EPS) and in parallel with this they embarked upon a bid process to select suitable subcontractors for the work.