Auger (GB426) - Shell

Location

The Auger platform is situated in the Gulf of Mexico, specifically at the Green Canyon Block 426 (GB426), with coordinates 27.5503, -92.4323 (WGS 84).

Depth and Platform Type

The platform operates in a water depth of approximately 2,860 feet (871 meters) and is a tension leg platform (TLP).

History and Development

• The Auger field was discovered in 1987. While the exact Final Investment Decision (FID) year is not specified, the field has been in production for several decades.

Production and Reserves

• Current Production:
  • As of 2022, the platform produces approximately 3.51 million barrels of oil per year (mbbl/y) and 386.6 million cubic meters of gas per year (million m³/y).
  • Prior to 2022, production levels were around 2.73 mbbl/y for oil and 405.9 million m³/y for gas in 2020.
• Cumulative Production:
  • By 2019, the cumulative production was 286.3 million barrels of oil and 28,724.34 million cubic meters of gas.
• Reserves:
  • As of 2019, the remaining reserves were estimated at 19.1 million barrels of oil and 1,761.29 million cubic meters of gas.

Infrastructure and Facilities

• The Auger platform is connected to the GB 128 A facilities via a 16-inch oil line and a 12-inch gas line. This connection enhances the platform's production capacity to over 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bo/d) and 300 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMcfd).
• The platform benefits from a 170-MMcfd gas pipeline booster compressor station located on the Enchilada platform, which supports the gas transportation network.
• The GB 128 A facilities include:
  • Oil processing trains with a capacity of up to 100,000 bo/d, including high-sulfur and low-sulfur oil production and processing trains.
  • Gas separation and dehydration facilities with a capacity of 400 MMcfd.
  • Slug catchers to remove liquids from incoming gas pipelines.
  • A 4,500-hp oil pipeline booster station.
  • A generator station with three 4,750-kw turbine generators and waste-heat recovery for process heat.

Connectivity and Transportation

• The platform is part of a broader transportation network that includes multiple pipelines. The Enchilada platform serves as a key hub, providing additional sales-line capacity and supporting the transportation of oil and gas from the Auger platform.

Technical Capabilities

• The platform has 15 well slots and is equipped with full facilities, including a drilling rig.
• The facilities are designed to process and deliver oil and gas into sales pipelines, treat and dispose of produced water, and handle condensate and crude oil separately.

Expansion and Future Capacity

• The current setup allows for future expansion, including the addition of another parallel oil train to increase crude oil capacity beyond 100,000 bo/d. There is also provision for additional compressors and other infrastructure to support increased production.

The Auger (GB426) project is a significant contributor to Shell's offshore oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico, leveraging advanced infrastructure and technology to optimize production and transportation.