Al Shaheen Oil Field
| Al Shaheen Oil Field | |
|---|---|
| Country: | Qatar |
| Region: | Persian Gulf |
| Block(s): | 5 |
| Offshore/onshore: | offshore |
| Coordinates: | 26°36′18″N 51°55′55″E / 26.605°N 51.932°E |
| Operator: | Maersk Oil Qatar AS |
| Partners: | Maersk Oil Qatar Petroleum |
| Field history | |
| Discovery: | 1992 |
| Start of production: | 1994 |
| Production | |
| Current production of oil: | Template:Bbl to t/LoffAoffSoffP |
| Year of current production of oil: | 2006 |
| Producing formations: | Khuff formation |
The Al Shaheen Oil Field is a production oil and gas field off the north east of coast of Qatar in the Persian Gulf, 180 kilometres (110 mi) north of Doha.[1] The oil field lies over the North Gas Field, the largest gas field in the world. The field is operated by Maersk Oil Qatar AS of Denmark under a production sharing agreement with Qatar Petroleum, on behalf of the state of Qatar.[2]
Contents
History
The Oil field was discovered in 1992 by Maersk Oil. The drilling of appraisal wells was completed in 1994 by using horizontal drilling techniques.[3][4] Regular oil production started at the same year. In 1995–1996, production facilities were extended with a subsea export pipelines, an additional single point mooring loading buoy, new process facilities and a STAR type wellhead platform.[3]
In April 2004, the extension area north of block 5 was included to the production sharing agreement agreement. Inaugurated of new offshore facilities took place on 23 February 2005.[5]
In May 2008, GSF Rig 127 operated by Transocean drilled the world record extended reach well BD-04A in the field. The well was drilled incident free to a record measured depth of 40,320 ft (12,290 m) including a record horizontal reach of 35,770 ft (10,900 m) in 36 days.[6]
From 2004 until August 2009 the massive supertanker, Knock Nevis, the largest oil tanker built to date, was moored there as an floating storage and offloading unit (FSO).[7] In January 2010, she was replaced by FSO Asia, owned by Overseas Shipholding Group and Euronav.[8]
Geology
The producing formation is the Khuff formation. The field is described by low permeability, limited thickness, and geological complexity.[2]
Production
The field consist of 131 operational production and water injection wells, 18 permanent platforms, and six production installations connected by 20 pipelines.[2] In 2006, Al Shaheen's production of 240,000 barrels per day (38,000 m3/d) accounted for a significant portion of Qatar's total oil production of 815,000 barrels per day (129,600 m3/d). Although the production capacity reaches 260,000 barrels per day (41,000 m3/d), the current actual production is only 200,000 barrels per day (32,000 m3/d) due to OPEC quotas.[2] A development plan between Maersk Oil and Qatar Petroleum is calling for an increase in field production to 525,000 barrels per day (83,500 m3/d). This increase is expected to account for the majority of growth in Qatar's petroleum output over this time.[9]
Oil is stored at the floating storage and offloading vessels Maran Canopus, Asto Canopus, and FSO Asia.[10] FSO Africa was to join FSO Asia; however, this contract was canceled by Maersk Oil.[11] Produced oil is transported to the Mesaieed Industrial City for processing and exporting. There is a plant to build a new 250,000-barrel-per-day (40,000 m3/d) refinery in Mesaieed to process oil from Al Shaheen; however, this plan is postponed.[12]
The Al-Shaheen field produces also the associated gas. The gas production is estimated about 220 million cubic feet per day (6.2×106 m3/d) of which 125–150 million cubic feet per day (3.5×106–4.2×106 m3/d) is exported through the North Field Alpha facilities to Mesaieed, 30 million cubic feet per day (850×103 m3/d) is consumed on-site for power and heat generation, and 40 million cubic feet per day (1.1×106 m3/d) is flared.[13]
References
- ↑ "Qatar: location of oil & gas fields" (PDF). Roc Oil Company. 2 April 2001. http://www.rocoil.com.au/pages/ASX_Releases/2001_Releases/Attachments/2-Apr-2001-Attachment-2.pdf. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Al Shaheen Oil Field, Qatar". Offshore-Technology. Net Resources International. http://www.offshore-technology.com/projects/alshaheen/. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Development of the Al Shaheen field". Maersk Oil. http://www.maerskoil.com/EN/AREASOFACTIVITY/QATAR/Pages/TheAlShaheenField.aspx. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
- ↑ Sonowal, K., Bennetzen, B., Wong, P., Isevcan, E.; "How Continuous Improvement Lead to the Longest Horizontal Well in the World", SPE/IADC 119506, Presented at the SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and Exhibition held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 17–19 March 2009.
- ↑ "Al Shaheen Field Offshore Facilities Inaugurated". Qatar Petroleum (Rigzone). 2005-02-23. http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=20564. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
- ↑ Transocean Ltd. (21 May 2008). "Transocean GSF Rig 127 Drills Deepest Extended-Reach Well". Press release. http://www.deepwater.com/fw/main/Transocean-GSF-Rig-127-Drills-Deepest-Extended-Reach-Well-283C4.html. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
- ↑ Canty, Daniel (2009-08-16). "World's largest FSO to retire from Qatar waters". ArabianOilandGas.com (ITP Business Publishing Ltd.). http://www.arabianoilandgas.com/article-6020-worlds_largest_fso_to_retire_from_qatar_waters/. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
- ↑ "OSG Delivers First FSO to Al Shaheen Oil Field". Overseas Shipholding Group (Rigzone). 2010-01-04. http://www.rigzone.com/NEWS/article.asp?a_id=85089. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
- ↑ Energy Information Administration (02 December 2009). "Country Analysis Briefs: Qatar". US Dept. of Energy. http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Qatar/Oil.html. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
- ↑ (PDF) Al Shaheen Terminal. General Information, Part 2. Maersk Oil. 2010-03-01. http://sweb.iss-shipping.com/Attachments/GENERAL%20INFORMATION%20REVISION%209a%20-%20PART%202.pdf. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
- ↑ McCulley, Russell (2010-01-22). "Maersk cancels Al Shaheen FSO contract". OilOnline (Atlantic Communications). http://www.oilonline.com/News/NewsArticles/RigsVessels/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/26889/Maersk-cancels-Al-Shaheen-FSO-contract.aspx. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
- ↑ "Qatar Delays Construction of al-Shaheen Oil Refinery". OilVoice. 2010-03-03. http://www.oilvoice.com/n/Qatar_Delays_Construction_of_alShaheen_Oil_Refinery/dad46a681.aspx. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
- ↑ (PDF) Project 0763: Al-Shaheen Oil Field Gas Recovery and Utilization Project. UNFCCC. 2004. http://cdm.unfccc.int/UserManagement/FileStorage/5VEM9Z9DVJ14XVQ8CWAFXPDAC8RQLH. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
