Te Giac Trang

Te Giac Trang (White Rhinoceros) Oilfield Profile

Location

The Te Giac Trang oilfield is located in the Cuu Long Basin of the South China Sea, offshore Vietnam, specifically in block 16-1, and partially in block 15-2/01.

Water Depth

The field lies at a water depth of approximately 45 metres (148 feet).

Discovery and Development

• The Te Giac Trang field was discovered in 2003 with the drilling of the TGT-1X well. By 2008, seven exploration and appraisal wells were drilled, confirming its commercial viability.
• The development plan was approved by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade in September 2009. First oil production began on August 22, 2011.

Operators and Ownership

• The field is operated by Hoang Long Joint Operating Company (JOC), a partnership between:
  • PetroVietnam (41%)
  • SOCO International (previously held 28.5%, now Pharos Energy holds a significant stake)
  • PTT Exploration and Production (28.5%)
  • OPECO Vietnam (2%).

Geology and Reserves

• The field's reservoir consists of Miocene sandstone.
• The estimated reserves are approximately 300 million barrels of oil equivalent.
• As of 2021 and 2023, the remaining recoverable reserves include 76.42 million barrels of crude oil and condensate, and 1,212.23 million cubic meters of gas.

Field Development

• The field is developed using two wellhead platforms, H1 and H4. The installation of these platforms has been completed.
• Sixteen production wells are connected to these platforms.
• Oil produced from the platforms is exported to the Armada TGT 1 FPSO via a subsea pipeline system.
• Gas produced is transported to the Bach Ho platform, located near the field.

FPSO Armada TGT 1

• The FPSO Armada TGT 1 was converted from a Suezmax tanker by Keppel Offshore and Marine.
• It has a processing capacity of 55,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) and a storage capacity of 620,000 barrels of oil.
• The topsides of the FPSO weigh nearly 12,000 tonnes, and it is designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions.

Production

• During the first phase, the field achieved a plateau production of 55,000 barrels of oil per day and 30 million cubic feet per day of natural gas.
• Phase II development added an additional 40,000 barrels of oil per day to the production.
• Peak production was reached in 2013, and as of recent data, the field has recovered 55.84% of its total recoverable reserves. Production is expected to continue until the field reaches its economic limit in 2044.

Contractors and Contracts

• Key contractors involved include:
  • PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation for the construction, installation, and commissioning of the H1 and H4 platforms.
  • Bumi Armada and Vietsovpetro for the FPSO conversion and its installation, operation, and maintenance.
  • J Ray McDermott for transporting and installing wellhead platform jackets and topsides.
  • Cables International for supplying cables.
  • Logstor for pipe coating services.
  • DK Engineering for fuel gas conditioning and other equipment.
  • Keppel Offshore and Marine for the FPSO conversion.

Current Status and Future Plans

• The field is currently in operation, with ongoing production.
• An expansion project, the Te Giac Trang Full Field Development Phase 2, is in the approval stage.

Economic Impact

• The Te Giac Trang field currently accounts for approximately 4% of Vietnam’s daily oil output.