Schwedeneck-See oil field

The Schwedeneck-See oil field was a significant oil field in the German sector of the Baltic Sea. It was the first oil field in the Baltic, and was Germany’s first offshore oil field. lt produced oil from 1984 until 2000.

Schwedeneck-See oil field
CountryGermany
RegionBaltic Sea
LocationBay of Kiel
Offshore/onshoreOffshore
OperatorDeutsche Texaco; RWE-DEA
Service contractorsC.G. Doris and IMS
Field history
DiscoveryJuly 1978
Start of productionNovember 1984
Abandonment2000
Production
Current production of oil8,000 barrels per day (~4.1×10^5 t/a)
Recoverable oil18.5 million barrels (~2.62×10^6 t)
Producing formationsJurassic sandstone

The field edit

The Schredeneck-See field is located in Kiel Bay in the Baltic Sea about 5 km east from the coast.[1] The reservoir is a Jurassic sandstone at a depth of about 1,511 metres, with a thickness of 8.2 m. The properties of the reservoir and its fluids are:[1] [2]

Schredeneck-See oil field
Property Value
Reservoir pressure 130 bar
Reservoir temperature 55°C
Permeability 400-2000 md
Specific gravity 0.875 kg/l
Gas Oil Ratio 51 scf/stbbl
Paraffin content 9 %
Viscosity 13 mPas
Pour point 16°C
API gravity 27.6°
Porosity 26 %
Water saturation 25 %
Sulfur content 1.3 %

The field was discovered in July 1978 and had recoverable reserves of 2.5 million tonnes or 18.5 million barrels of oil.[1] [3]

Development edit

The field was developed by a 50/50% joint venture with Deutsche Texaco AG and Wintershall AG.[3] The project was estimated to cost in excess of DM 300 million (1983 prices). It was developed using two offshore installations and a shore base. There were plans to construct one or two further offshore installations to further develop the field but these were not constructed.[4] The operator opted to build two, single column, concrete gravity base structures to withstand seasonal ice floes in the Baltic.[4]

The platforms were designed by C. G. Doris and IMS of Hamburg. The gravity base comprises a central shaft 13 m in diameter surrounded by 8 shafts of the same diameter and a height of 12.85 m to protect the central column and for water ballasting. The base area was 38 by 38 m.[2]The height of the column was 36.95 m and supported the lower deck of the topsides at this level.[1] [2]

Schredeneck-See oil platforms
Installation Coordinates Water depth Weight Type Legs Well slots Producing  wells Installed Production start Production to
Platform A R 35 70 716 H 60 51 270 25 m 16,500 tonnes Concrete gravity base 1 12 7 August October 1983 November 1984 Waabs shore terminal by 5.5 km 10-inch pipeline
Platform B R 35 63 475 H 60 48 407 16 m 13,200 tonnes Concrete gravity base 1 12 9 August October 1983 Summer 1985 Waabs shore terminal by 3.5 km 10-inch pipeline

Crude oil was processed through a closed system with processing onshore at Waabs, oil was then sent to the Texaco refinery at Heide. Associated gas produced at Waabs was used for space heating at the terminal and at the nearby Damp 2000 recreation centre.[1] Because of the low gas-oil-ratio there was no flaring of gas on the platforms. Electrical submersible pumps were installed within the wells at a depth of about 1,200 m.[2] The installations were operated remotely from the shore station. When initially commissioned the field produced 1,100 tonnes/d or 8,000 barrels/day of crude oil.[2]

Decommissioning edit

The RWE-DEA corporation closed the installations in 2000. The topsides were removed and the gravity bases refloated and removed for disposal in 2002.[5]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Oilfield Publications Limited (1985). The North Sea Platform Guide. Ledbury UK: Oilfield Publications Limited. pp. 603–7.
  2. ^ a b c d e Klatt, H.J and H.C. Klumker; K.A. Siebel (1988). "Design and Operation of Two Remote Controlled Platforms in the Baltic Sea, West Germany". All Days. doi:10.2118/17624-MS – via https://onepetro.org/SPEIOGCEC/proceedings-abstract/88IMPE/All-88IMPE/SPE-17624-MS/68565. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help); External link in |via= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b "Schwedeneck-See: the first German offshore oilfield". Oil Gas European Magazine 1. 10 (2): 56–8. 1984.
  4. ^ a b Putsch, G. "Developments of German offshore oil and gas production" (PDF).
  5. ^ Overdick (2002). "Schwedeneck See - Gravity base platform".