Champion

Location and Geology

The Champion Oil Field is situated approximately 40 kilometres north-northwest of Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is located in shallow water depths ranging from 10 to 45 metres, with the shallow part of the field covered by coral reefs.

Ownership and Operation

The field is owned and operated by Brunei Shell Petroleum Company (BSP), a joint venture equally owned by the Government of Brunei and Shell.

Discovery and Development

The Champion Field was discovered in 1970 by the drilling of the Champion-1 well. The first oil platform was completed in 1972 to produce from shallow, oil-bearing intervals. Over the years, several significant events and developments have shaped the field:

• In 1974, a blow-out at Champion-41 caused a delay in appraisal and development operations.
• In 1975-1976, eight isolated appraisal wells were drilled to compensate for the delay.
• The Champion West field was discovered in 1975 by the well CW-1, located approximately 7 km north-northwest of the Champion Main field.

Infrastructure and Platforms

The field has a complex infrastructure with multiple platforms:

• Champion-7 Complex: Construction began in 1980 and was completed in 1983. This complex includes living quarters, gaslift and compression facilities, water treatment, and injection facilities. It also features a new 1,000-tonne power generation module installed in 2013.
• Other Platforms: The field includes numerous other platforms such as Champion-11, Champion-37, Champion-38, and Champion-39. By 2015, several platforms (CPPP01, CPRP01, CPDP33, CPPP04, CPRP04, and CPDP31) were scheduled for demolition and reconstruction.

Champion WaterFlood Project

To enhance oil recovery, the Champion WaterFlood Project was initiated:

• Phase A1: Began with the drilling of 20 wells, including both water injection and production wells, with the first oil produced in 2012.
• Phase A2: Involved the drilling of 22 new water injection and production wells, the upgrade of existing platforms, and the installation of new water injection pipelines and subsea composite cables. The upgrade of the drilling platform CPDP 37 was completed in early 2013, enabling oil production from the A2 phase in May 2013.

Technical Upgrades and Installations

Several significant technical upgrades have been made:

• Power Generation: A new 1,000-tonne power generation module featuring two gas turbine generator units was installed on the Champion-7 Exploration Platform in July 2013.
• Living Quarters: A fuel gas conditioning skid (FGCS) system and an emergency diesel generator (EDG) were installed on the new Champion-7 Living Quarters (CPNQ-7) platform in 2013.
• Water Injection Plant: A new water injection plant was installed in 2013, including fine filters, chemical injection skids, coarse filters, a de-aerator tower, and other facilities.
• Subsea Installations: The installation of a new water injection flexible pipeline and a composite bundled cable was completed in 2013. SURF (subsea, umbilical, riser, and flowline) installation works were performed by Kreuz Subsea.

Production and Reserves

• As of 1996, 282 wells had been drilled, with 118 producing.
• In 2006, Brunei reached its peak oil production of 220,000 barrels per day, making it the third largest producer in Asia. However, production declined to 141,000 barrels per day by 2012.
• The field is projected to continue production until it reaches its economic limit in 2060, with an estimated recovery of 84.27% of its total recoverable reserves.
• As of November 2023, the field produces around 26% of Brunei's daily oil output.

Contractors and Service Providers

Several companies have been involved in the development and maintenance of the Champion Field:

• Siemens: Installed the new power generation module.
• Kreuz Subsea: Performed SURF installation works.
• McDermott International: Awarded a contract to transport and install additional pipelines, umbilicals, and cables for the offshore field.

The Champion Oil Field is a complex and significant oil and gas project, with ongoing efforts to enhance recovery and maintain production efficiency.