World's First Buoyant Tower Successfully Set in Peru

Sept. 28, 2012 - PRLog -- World’s first Buoyant Tower Successfully Set in Peru

Final for Release – September 28th 2012

The CX-15 buoyant tower designed by Horton Shallow Water Development (SWD) has been successfully set as planned for BPZ Energy off the coast of Peru.   The Buoyant Tower is located approximately one mile from the existing CX-11 platform in a water depth of 175 feet (53 m) in the Corvina field in offshore block Z-1.  Both platforms will be interconnected via a series of subsea pipelines.

The design of the platform features a number of specific areas that greatly reduced cost and simplified setting.  The transport vessel; the Osprey, a submersible heavy lift ship, transported the topside and hull tower components of the platform to the field site and also launched the tower and was used for mating the decks to the tower.   The Hull was initially floated off in a horizontal orientation and then upended with a controlled flood of the lower hull cavities.  This process was complete in a single day.  Additional ballast was then added to the hull structure before it was mated with the topside positioned on a cantilever structure, also on the Osprey.
All operations went to plan and the combined topside and hull was wet towed to the final location where the last phase was to set the whole structure into the seabed using the integral suction foundation.  
Kevin Chell, CEO of SWD stated “We have reached an exciting milestone with the successful launch, mating and setting of the new buoyant tower platform showing the design can deliver in real terms and proving the methodology for a system that does not need a heavy lift barge. ”
Richard Spies, COO of BPZ Energy, commented “The use of the Buoyant Tower design has been a key driver in the cost effective and timely expansion of the development of our Z-1 asset.  We have been impressed with the delivery team and how the whole project has come together as planned.”
Buoyant Tower Design
The Buoyant Tower concept draws on the proven technology of the cellspar and the design provides multiple benefits for fields where other concepts would be problematic requiring high capital costs and expensive crane barges for installation. The buoyant tower can operate in water depths up to 800 feet (250m) and can be relocated allowing small marginal plays to be exploited in a cost effective manner. The design allows for oil storage if needed, can eliminate separate shallow water drilling units and provides a high level of flexibility for the operator.

The benefits of the design were recognized and adopted by BPZ Energy for their new CX-15 platform at the Corvina field.  The platform is designed for 12,200 barrels of oil per day (1940 m3/d), gas compression capacity of 12.8 million standard cubic feet per day (0.36 million Sm3/d) and produced water handling and injection capacity of 3,500 barrels per day (557 m3/d). A total of 24 drill slots will be available, some of which will be used for gas and water reinjection wells.
ENDS

Image  ‘CX-15 set on location’ Buoyant Tower at final location after successful suction foundation penetration.  

 
About SWD

Horton Shallow Water Developments (SWD) is a joint venture company between Horton Wison Deepwater and GMC Inc.  The company is actively promoting the use of the Buoyant Tower technology in areas where the key benefits provide a compelling economic, schedule and operating advantages

About GMC

GMC is an industry leader in innovative engineering, project management and installation solutions for offshore oil & gas SURF, drilling, and production projects. For the CX-15 Buoyant Tower GMC also provided project management services to BPZ for the fabrication and Installation phase.  Established in 1991, GMC has offices in Houston, London and Beijing and the company has developed strategic partnerships with key customers & partners. ‘GMC - Experience where it counts, innovation where it matters’.
Contact: -  Phil.walsh@gmcltd.net
www.gmcltd.net

About Horton Wison Deepwater

Horton Wison Deepwater is one of the World’s leading offshore technology development companies. Horton develops the products that oil and gas companies need across the globe in their search for hydrocarbons.  Created by Ed Horton, one of the industry’s most successful innovators, the company continues in the path set out by its founder three decades ago when the tension leg platform (TLP) was first patented. Since then, Horton’s team has developed the Spar concept and steered it through its evolution from the original Classic Spar through the Truss Spar to today’s Cellspar. Seventeen Horton floating production and drilling units have been built and are working today in the deep oceans worldwide.
Contact: -  Chris.harding@hortonwison.com
www.hortonwison.com


For any questions or additional information on this project please contact any of the people advised above or call Phil Walsh on 281 770 5786.