Kittiwake

Kittiwake Oil and Gas Field Profile

Location

The Kittiwake Oil and Gas Field is located in the Central North Sea, specifically in Block 21/18 of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). It is approximately 135 km east of Peterhead, Scotland.

Coordinates

The field's coordinates are 57.4738°N, 0.4974°E.

Water Depth

The water depth at the Kittiwake platform is between 85-90 meters.

History

• Field Development Approval: The development of the Kittiwake field was approved by the government in 1987.
• First Production: The field began production in 1990.
• Ownership Changes: Initially operated by Shell U.K. Ltd and Esso Exploration and Production UK Limited, the field was acquired by Venture Production on November 26, 2003. Later, in 2013, EnQuest acquired 50% of the Greater Kittiwake Area (GKA).

Production and Export

• Initial Export System: Until 2005, crude oil was exported via the Kittiwake Loading Buoy (KLB) to shuttle tankers. This system was replaced by a Subsea Assisted Loading (SAL) system by the end of 2005.
• Current Export System: In November 2007, a new 33 km, 10-inch pipeline was commissioned to export oil from the GKA to BP’s Unity Platform, which then connects to the Forties Pipeline System (FPS) and ultimately to shore at Cruden Bay.
• Production Capacity: The Kittiwake platform has a processing capacity of around 29,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (Boepd), with a gas processing capacity of 13.7 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) and a water injection capacity of 57,000 Boepd.

Field Details

• Estimated Reserves: Initially, the Kittiwake field had estimated in-place liquids reserves of 165 million barrels, with 65 million barrels of recoverable oil.
• Satellite Fields: The Kittiwake platform serves as a hub for several satellite fields, including Goosander, Grouse, Mallard, and Gadwall, which are connected via subsea tiebacks.

Infrastructure and Operations

• Platform Facilities: The platform includes facilities for oil and gas processing, water injection, and gas compression. It has the capability to inject up to 38,000 barrels per day of produced water and 57,000 barrels per day of seawater for pressure maintenance and enhanced reservoir sweep.
• Pipeline System: The new export pipeline includes a pipeline end template at the base of the Kittiwake riser, designed for remote valve operations and diver intervention, with provisions for future subsea intelligent pigging equipment.

Decommissioning

• Kittiwake Loading Buoy (KLB): The KLB, which was used for exporting crude oil to shuttle tankers, was decommissioned. The buoy and associated infrastructure, including the mooring tethers and riser system, were removed. The export pipeline (PL672) was sealed with a blind flange and maintained under the Interim Pipelines Regime (IPR) for possible future reuse.

Current Status

• Operator: The current operator of the Kittiwake Oil and Gas Field is EnQuest Plc.
• Production Status: The field remains in production, with the Kittiwake platform continuing to serve as the hub for the Greater Kittiwake Area fields.

Additional Developments

• Upgrades and Modifications: Various upgrades and modifications have been made to the platform, including the installation of new main oil line (MOL) pumps and upgrades to the power generation system to support increased production.
• Environmental Considerations: The field operations have included thorough environmental considerations, such as the re-injection of produced water into the reservoir and the use of seawater for pressure maintenance and enhanced reservoir sweep.