Shell/esso will install /700-million underwater manifold center in North Sea

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Ocean Ind.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7021053

Sometime in the summer of 1982 engineers and technicians for Shell and Esso will make the first commercial installation of a sophisticated Underwater Manifold Center (UMC) in tests until (490-ft) water in the Cormorant field of the UK North Sea sector. The subsea production system has been under development since 1974. If its promise is fulfilled, it could mean millions of additional barrels of oil can be produced commercially from small reservoirs beyond the reach of existing platforms and from marginal fields lying in deep water, sometimes in combination with floating production systems. The UMC will be capable of working in several thousand feet of water safely without diver intervention and with minimum maintenance. The underwater test project is scheduled to begin production in 1983 and continue its tests until 1986. Total cost is estimated at /700 million. During its anticipated 25-year lifetime, the UMC is expected to recover about 110 million bbls from the central Cormorant area - 20% of the field's total anticipated production.

• OSTI ID: 7021053
• Journal Information: Ocean Ind.; (United States), Journal Name: Ocean Ind.; (United States) Vol. 17:2; ISSN OCIDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
42 ENGINEERING
423000 -- Engineering-- Marine Engineering-- (1980-)
ATLANTIC OCEAN
COST
INSTALLATION
NORTH SEA
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
OIL WELLS
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
UNDERWATER FACILITIES
WELLS