Alba Alba
PRODUCTION FACILITY
Facility Name Alba Northern Platform Duty Oil
Operator ConocoPhillips Current Status Producing since 1994
Host Type Fixed Platform Water Depth 158 m / 521 ft
Dev.Cost n/a Region UK
 
Location 16/26



Facility Name Alba Southern Platform Duty Oil/Gas
Operator ConocoPhillips Current Status Producing since 1994
Host Type Fixed Platform Water Depth 138 m / 455 ft
Dev.Cost n/a Region UK
 
Location Block 16/26
 
OIL & GAS FIELD
Field Name Alba Discovery Date Dec 1984
Block 16/26 Reserve Type Oil
Current
Status
Producing Production Start Jan 1994
Water Depth 138 m / 455 ft
 
 
Description
 
The Alba field is located 130 miles (209 kilometers) northeast of Aberdeen, Scotland on UK North Sea Block 16/26. The water depth of the well is approximately 453 feet (138 meters).

Alba was discovered in 1984 by Chevron, granted government approval for field development in 1991 and commenced production in 1994. The field's estimated recoverable reserves are 1 billion barrels of oil with production capacity at 32,000 bopd.

Chevron serves as the operator and holds a 23.37% interest; Endeavour holds 25.68%; Statoil holds 17%; Mitsui holds 13.3%; Total holds 12.65%; and Cieco holds 8%.

Field Development

The Alba field was developed in two phases. The first phase included the installation of a new platform-based facility in the northern area of the field using a floating storage unit and a fixed steel platform - Alba Northern Platform. The platform consists of production capabilities, drilling and living quarters, and is the first of its kind in the UK sector of the North Sea. The eight-legged structure stands in 520 feet of water (158 meters) and supports a 20,200-metric-ton topside with slots for 24 wells. Tankers transport Alba oil, and it is then exported to Britannia.

Once Phase I was completed, eight months of research was conducted to find out the best options for the next part of the project, which included development of the southern area of the reservoir.

Phase II

Phase two of the project consisted of installing a second platform, Alba Southern, in the southern area of the field.

Phase II A

Once construction began, officials decided the platform needed to increase its production from a design rate of 75,000 bopd to 100,000 bopd. This part of the development was completed in 1996; now the platform produces at an average rate of 91,802 bopd.

Phase II B

The second part of the development consisted of increasing the gross fluids handling capacity from 240,000 to 390,000 barrels of fluids per day. A new 4-mile (6-kilometer) pipeline, connecting a single subsea water injection well to the platform, was installed to improve the quality of water production during the production process.

Three new modules were attached to the platform to hold processing equipment - a separator, a new hydro cyclone package with high-efficiency liners to process fluids, and a produced water pump designed to recover heat from the water stream for injection water feed. This new “polishing” system provides 100,000 barrels of water per day to the platform.

This improved oil separation from produced water is the first application of its type in the UK sector of the North Sea, and was the largest system ever applied.

This second phase of construction came online in 2004.
 
Activities
 
EnQest Grabs Share of Alba
Date: Jan. 2013
Type: Operator Update
EnQuest and CIECO have reached an agreement whereby EnQest will acquire CIECO's 8 percent non-operated interest in the Alba field on the UK Continental Shelf. Under the agreement, EnQuest will pay out $29.6 million cash plus a further deferred cash consideration of up to $790,000 based on certain project milestones. The agreement is subject to standard regulatory consent. Alba is estimated to hold 1 billion barrels of oil in Eocene turbidite sandstones. During the first half of 2012 the field produced 6.4 million barrels.
BP Sells Alba Stake to Mitsui
Date: Jun. 2012
Type: Acreage Acquisition
BP is selling its interests in the Alba and Britannia fields in the UK sector of the North Sea to Mitsui & Co. for $280 million. Net BP production from the two fields averages some 7,000 barrels of oil per day. The sale comprises BP's 13.3-percent stake in Alba and 8.97-percent stake in Britannia. Completion of the deal is anticipated by the end of 3Q 2012, subject to regulatory and other licensee approvals.
Endeavour Acquires UK Producing Assets
Date: Dec. 2011
Type: Acreage Acquisition
Endeavour has entered into a purchase and sale agreement to acquire ConocoPhillips' interest in three producing UK oil fields in the central North Sea for $330 million. Endeavour will increase their current ownership interest in the Alba field, a late Eocene reservoir that has been producing since 1994. Additionally, the company will add ownership interests in the MacCulloch and Nicol fields. Endeavour's aggregate working interest in the Alba field will be 25.68 percent following the closing of the acquisition. The company anticipates assuming operatorship of the MacCulloch field, subject to final partner agreement.
Chevron Resumes Production at Alba Northern Platform
Date: Nov. 2010
Type: Status Update
Production has resumed at the Alba Northern platform, announced Chevron, after a gas leak was detected Wednesday, November 17. The Alba field is located 130 miles (209 kilometers) northeast of Aberdeen, Scotland on UK North Sea Block 16/26. The water depth of the field is approximately 453 feet (138 meters). Chevron serves as the operator and holds a 21.17% interest; ConocoPhillips holds 23.43%; Statoil holds 17%; BP holds 15.50%; Total holds 12.65%; Cieco holds 8%; and Endeavour holds 2.25%.
RBG Receives Contract from Chevron North Sea
Date: May. 2010
Type: Contract Award
RBG will deliver electrical rope access services and provide electrical inspections and upgrades for three platforms, Alba, Captain and Erskine on the UKCS. Chevron North Sea awarded the US $1.7 million three-year contract.
Wood Group to Service Chevron Facilities in the North Sea
Date: Feb. 2010
Type: Contract Award
Wood Group received a three-year operations and maintenance support services contract from Chevron North Sea Limited for its Alba, Captain and Erskine fields. Facilities included in the service arrangement include the Alba Northern Platform, the Captain FPSO and the Wellhead Production Platform, and the unmanned Erskine Platform, all located in the UK sector of the North Sea. The contract went into effect February 8, and includes two, one-year extension options exercisable by Chevron.
Chevron Selects Wood Group for North Sea Engineering Services
Date: Oct. 2009
Type: Contract Award
Wood Group was awarded a three-year engineering and construction contract by Chevron North Sea Limited for its Alba, Captain and Erskine fields. Worth an estimated £45 million over the initial three years, the contract is effective from October 1, 2009, and includes two, one-year extension options exercisable by Chevron. The contract covers the engineering and construction support services for the Alba Northern Platform, the Captain FPSO & Wellhead Production Platform and the unmanned Erskine Platform.
Alba Southern Area Development Option Selected
Date: Jul. 1997
Type: Development Activity
New platform-based facilities, together with a subsea water injection well, will be installed, subject to final Government approval, as part of the continuing development of the Chevron-operated Alba oilfield in the central North Sea. This follows eight months of studies into the best options for the next part of the Alba Phase II project to develop the southern area of the reservoir. Alba Phase II has seen the southern area developed through extended reach drilling from the Alba Northern Platform which will process the additional fluids from this part of the field.
 
Status History
 
Alba Northern Platform

Producing - Jan 14, 1994 to -
Alba Southern Platform

Producing - 1994 to -
Alba

Producing - Jan 14, 1994 to -
Under Development - 1991 to Jan 13, 1994
Discovery (Drilled) - Jan 1985 to 1990
Exploratory Drilling - Dec 1984 to Dec 1984
 
Project Map Europe - North Sea
Line Separator
Project Image
Alba Northern Fixed Platform
 
Alba Nothern Platform Jacket
 
Map of Alba field
 
Alba Platform