Babbage

Location

• The Babbage gas field is situated in Block 48/2a of the Southern North Sea (SNS), approximately 105 km northeast of Hull, UK.

Water Depth

• The field lies in a water depth of 42 meters (139 feet).

Discovery and First Production

• The field was discovered in January 1989 by the exploration well 48/2-2, which targeted the Permian-age lower Leman Sandstone formation.
• First gas production began in August 2010.

Field Development

• The field was developed in two phases. Phase one included the installation of the Babbage platform and the drilling of three production wells. Additional wells were drilled in the subsequent phase.

Platform and Infrastructure

• The Babbage development features a nine-slot not-permanently attended installation (NPAI). Currently, five horizontal multi-fracced gas wells are in production, with four spare slots available.
• The platform includes minimal processing facilities, with a design capacity of 75 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d). It has a 50 mmscf/d test separator and wet gas metering, but no significant gas processing facilities.

Production and Export

• Gas is exported via a 28 km, 12-inch pipeline to the West Sole System, where it enters a 68 km, 24-inch pipeline to Perenco Easington Terminal. From there, it flows onwards to Dimlington Gas Terminal for processing to National Grid specifications before being exported into the National Transmission System.

Operating Details

• The platform operates with an efficiency of over 98%. It has power generation facilities, a crane, and a helideck. Utilities and accommodation are available for up to thirty personnel, although the average number of personnel on board is eleven.
• The platform is remotely controlled from Dimlington Terminal, operated by Perenco. The duty holder contract is with ODE, and the well operator contract is with Fraser Well Management.

Environmental Impact

• The platform has minimal environmental impact, with local venting only, no flare, low power requirements, and minimal water export with the gas.

Fluids and Specifications

• The produced fluids are primarily gas, with minimal volumes of water. The gas meets specific entry and exit specifications, including:
  • O2: <10 ppm
  • CO2: <2.0 mol%
  • H2S: <3.3 ppm
  • Total sulphur: <35 ppm
  • Nitrogen: <5 mol%
  • Solids: Nil
  • Water content: <12 m³/d
  • Wobbe index: 47.2-51.41 MJ/m³
  • Gross calorific value (CV): 36.87-42.25 MJ/m³
  • Flowing wellhead temperature (WHT): <65°C
  • Shut-in wellhead pressure (WHP): <280 barg
  • Export entry point pressure: <82.7 barg.

Ownership and Licensing

• The field is operated by NEO Energy Petroleum Limited, which holds a 60% interest. Dana Petroleum E&P Limited holds the remaining 40%.

Design Life

• The platform has a design life of 25 years.