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In
December 2008, block operator
Galoc Production Company (GPC) conducted an emergency disconnection
of the Floating Production and Storage Offloading (FPSO) from the
riser and mooring system (M&RS ) which was damaged as a result of
the disconnection and laying down of the M&RS on the seabed, brought
about by the adverse weather conditions at the time. Severe weather
condition persisted for about a month. Repair on the subsea
facilities commenced in mid-January 2009. GPC took advantage of the
temporary shutdown of the field to propose, design and install a
Hold Back Mooring System (HBMS) on the FPSO as an additional measure
to counter the difficulties in maintaining position and to moderate
the effects of disconnection to facilities and operations.
The installation of the HBMS and the repair works and modifications
to the existing M&RS were
completed on the 4th
week of February 2009. The
field finally started producing again on February 25, 2009
at an initial stabilized rate of
17,200 barrels of oil per day. However, inclement weather persisted
during most of the middle part of the year which prompted the
operator to carry out disconnection of the FPSO and the M&RS on
different occasions, resulting in major operational glitches and
operational downtime. Overall, the Galoc Field had a 64% production
uptime since it started producing in October 2008 until end of
2009. During this period, the field produced a total of 3,578,650
barrels. By the end of 2009, the field was producing at a rate of
10,350 barrels per day.
Also in 2009, the 182-day Extended Production Test (EPT) for the
Galoc Field ended. The EPT was granted by the
Department of Energy (DOE) in August 2006 to allow GPC to fully
assess the viability of long term production from the field. The
gathered data from the EPT period proved sufficient for this goal,
thus the EPT was terminated on June 19, 2009 and commerciality of
the field declared on June 22,
2009 with effectivity on June 19, 2009.
As
of time of writing, GPC have completed
thirteen (13) crude oil
shipments involving approximately 4,252700 barrels.
Galoc crude buyers included
several foreign firms, as well as the state-owned Petron
Corporation.
Phase 2 Development
As
part of the assessment of the Galoc Field for possible Phase 2
development, GPC embarked on re-processing of 3D seismic data
covering the Galoc and the adjacent Octon area in Service Contract
6A. The results are expected to contribute to a better
understanding of the Galoc structure and to identify locations for
drilling new development wells. CGGVeritas in London, U.K. was
contracted to the re-processing work which ran from March to
December 2009. The resulting pre-stack time migration (PSTM) and
pre-stack depth migration (PSDM) data volumes are currently being
used in the ongoing evaluation of the Galoc Field.
An
ongoing series of technical workshops among the Joint Venture
partners aims to develop strategies for a second phase development
of the Galoc Field. Focus is centered on confirmation of additional
reserves and locating, design, drilling and completion of additional
production wells to fully maximize the field’s production
potential. GPC has already identified a number of target well
drilling locations with reserves estimate range from 1 MM to 6 MM
barrels. On the production facilities that will be put up, GPC
initially had a few choices for the production vessel including
retaining the existing FPSO. At the time of writing, when all
options have been thoroughly evaluated, the Consortium is now left
with the option of retaining the FPSO but with major modification
introduced to its Mooring & Riser System. Timing for these further
development activities is seen towards the 2nd and 3rd
quarters of 2010 with a final investment decision expected to be
made in September 2010.
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