Hindustan Oil Exploration Company (HOEC) has completed various installations in B-80 field (Western Offshore Project).
The Offshore installation, a jack up rig (Key Gibraltar) converted as an offshore processing unit, has been installed in the field and is ready to receive the oil and gas for processing from the subsea wells.
Flow lines have been laid and connected to the wells and the offshore processing unit. Similarly, the control umbilical to the trees of subsea wells and the processing unit are duly laid, connected and tested.
Gas export pipeline from offshore processing unit to the existing gas pipeline of ONGC to Hazira Terminal has been laid and hot tapped with ONGC line, which completes the requirements of gas evacuation.
The oil export pipeline from the offshore processing unit to the Pipeline End Manifold (PLEM) has been completed and connected to the PLEM. The under-buoy hose is installed and ready to connect to the Calm Buoy.
Calm Buoy was to be moored with six pile anchors and all the six piles have been driven to the required depth with anchor chains and are ready to moor the calm buoy.
Consequent to the cyclone and the onset of monsoon, the connection of anchors chains to the Calm Buoy was not possible due to the following reasons:
The company had to evacuate due to cyclone Tauktae while making the first attempt to connect the anchor chains to buoy to ensure the safety of personnel and the vessels in operation.
After the cyclone, a second attempt was made to connect the anchor chains to the buoy to complete the mooring, which was not possible due to poor underwater visibility and the picking up of adverse weather due to the onset of monsoon.
Until the calm buoy is installed and pre-tensioned with anchors, the Floating Storage Offshore (FSO) cannot be moored to receive and store the oil. Therefore, the production cannot commence till the calm buoy is fully moored and the hose is connected to the calm buoy.
The work will take about seven to 10 days at offshore and is expected to be completed once the monsoon is over. Therefore, the first oil from the field will be delayed to Q3/FY22.
With regard to the increase in 10 percent of participating interest to 60 percent in B-80 field, the amendment to revenue sharing contract (RSC) is being pursued with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
