Southwest Ampa

South West Ampa Gas Field Profile

Location and Geology

The South West Ampa (SWA) gas field, also known as the Ampa Field or Southwest Ampa, is located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) off the coast of Kuala Belait in Brunei, in the shallow sea with water depths ranging from 10 to 40 metres (33 to 131 ft).

Ownership and Operation

The field is owned by the Government of Brunei Darussalam and Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) Company Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Shell plc. BSP is responsible for the management and operation of the field.

Discovery and History

The South West Ampa gas field was discovered in July 1963 using the SWA-1 well. The discovery revealed a shallow reservoir with a fluctuating condensate percentage, a relatively high solution gas-oil ratio, an API gravity of 40°, and an initial oil viscosity of 0.35 cp. Oil production from the main field began in 1965 and peaked in 1973 at 20,000 cubic metres per day (710,000 cu ft/d). LNG production started in 1970.

Production and Reserves

The field contains over 400 oil rim reservoirs and 380 non-associated gas reservoirs. It has recovered 99.79% of its total recoverable reserves, with peak production occurring in 1973. As of 2021, the field produces around 2% of Brunei's daily oil and gas output. The field is expected to continue production until it reaches its economic limit in 2027.

Infrastructure and Transportation

Gas from the South West Ampa field is transported 39 kilometres (24 mi) to the Brunei LNG plant in Lumut via the South West Ampa-Lumut Gas Pipeline. This pipeline, operated by BSP, has a capacity of 50 million cubic feet per day and was commissioned in 1972.

LNG Plant

The gas extracted from the SWA field is processed at the Brunei LNG plant, which was completed in 1975. The plant, engineered and constructed by a joint venture between JGC and Procon, has a capacity of 1,000,000 tons per year across five LNG trains. The LNG is exported to Japan and other countries.

Platforms and Upgrades

The field includes several offshore platforms, with major upgrades undertaken in 2001 for the Ampa-6 and Ampa-9 complexes. These upgrades included the installation of new pipelines, a centralized crude stabilization facility, and an upgraded distributed control system. Several disused platforms were dismantled in June 2012.

Challenges and Technological Innovations

The complex geology, faulting, and internal reservoir cross-flow of the Ampa Field present significant challenges. These issues are addressed through research using 3D models and analytical calculations. The field has also seen the implementation of advanced drilling techniques, including the use of the jack-up drilling rig Maersk Convincer for development wells in 2018.

Economic and Environmental Impact

The South West Ampa field is crucial for Brunei's energy sector, accounting for more than half of the country's gas output and reserves. The field's production has helped Brunei overcome significant obstacles such as vast distances to markets, untested gas liquefaction technology, and a lack of expertise in LNG transportation.

In summary, the South West Ampa gas field is a vital component of Brunei's energy infrastructure, managed by BSP and owned by the Government of Brunei and Shell. It has a long history of production, significant reserves, and advanced technological implementations to ensure efficient and continued production.