Aquila

Location

The Aquila Oil and Gas Field is situated offshore in the southern Adriatic, approximately 45 kilometers off the coast of Brindisi, Italy. It is part of the Umbro-Marchigiano sedimentary basin.

Geographical and Geological Details

• The field is located in water depths of about 850 meters.
• The reservoir lies in the carbonatic Mesozoic formation within the Umbro-Marchigiano sedimentary basin.

Discovery and Development

• The field was discovered in 1982 by Agip (now part of Eni S.P.A.) following a concerted drilling campaign.
• After the initial discovery, further appraisal wells were drilled, including the Aquila 2 well in 1993 and another positive appraisal well in 1995. These wells confirmed the viability of the field.

Production

• Production at the Aquila Oil and Gas Field began in 1998.
• The field produces oil with an API gravity of 36 degrees.
• As of 2017, the oil production was approximately 1.29 million barrels per year.

Reserves

• The field contains relatively small reserves, estimated at around 20 million barrels of oil.

Technological and Operational Details

• Due to the field's remote location and deepwater environment, innovative technologies were employed. The project utilized a Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, the FPSO Firenze, which was converted from a tanker. The FPSO has a storage capacity of around 550,000 barrels and is capable of processing oil and associated gas.
• The production system includes subsea wells connected to the FPSO. The wells are equipped with horizontal subsea Christmas trees and a conventional drilling riser. Control is managed through a multiplexed electro-hydraulic subsea pod.
• To enhance oil recovery, gas lift injection was implemented using a Surface Controlled Reservoir Analysis and Management System (SCRAMS) device. This system allows for precise control over gas injection and production string management.
• The installation of subsea production components was done using Agip's SAF (Subsea Assembly Frame) technique, which is diverless and guidelineless, employing a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) for installation and maintenance.

Environmental and Operational Management

• Produced water is processed using hydrocyclones and flotation tanks to limit oil content to 10 parts per million before disposal.
• Associated gas is primarily used for well reinjection to enhance oil recovery and for power generation on the FPSO. Excess gas is flared.

Operator and Ownership

• The field is operated by Eni S.P.A., which is the primary owner of the project.

Development Timeline

• The development phase of the project took approximately 32 months, with production starting by the end of the development period in 1998.

The Aquila Oil and Gas Field is an example of how advanced technological solutions and meticulous planning can make a marginal field economically viable, even in challenging deepwater environments.