BSP’s high tech field onstream ahead of schedule

10 Jan 2006, Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd (BSP) today announced the start of crude oil production from Phase III of its Champion West field located 90 kilometres offshore.

Dr Grahaeme Henderson, Managing Director of BSP, said: “This is an excellent achievement, as first oil was planned for February 2006. We are two months ahead of schedule and have delivered first oil without compromising our safety and environmental performance.”

Dr Henderson continued: “I am pleased to announce that this well from Champion West has delivered a record flow rate for BSP. The reservoir is one of the largest undeveloped resources in Brunei, and will deliver new material oil and gas production for the next 20 years and beyond for the BSP shareholders of the Government of Brunei Darussalam and Shell.”

Early signs have confirmed that this well is a record production well for BSP flowing oil at an initial rate of 16,700 b/d (2,650 m3/d). Champion West is also producing gas and by 2010, almost a quarter of BSP’s gas production will come from this field.

Dr Henderson said: “We are particularly proud that this platform, comprising the subsurface jacket, together with the topside deck and facilities, was designed and constructed in Brunei, in BSP’s fabrication yard in Kuala Belait. This reinforces BSP’s commitment to develop Bruneian contractors and benefit the local community”.

The development of the field, discovered in 1975, has been made possible through the application of new technologies. Champion West brings together a number of cutting edge technologies, the first being a very complex, horizontal ‘snake’ well, which was drilled through the sands with a tortuous trajectory.

The platform is also one of the world’s most technically advanced offshore facilities and uses downhole pressure and temperature sensors pre-installed in a fibre-optic cable, five kilometres in length.

Remote controls, using high bandwidth connections to the shoreline, are also a feature allowing engineers in BSP’s Head Office to continuously monitor the performance of the offshore wells and facilities improving both production and reserves recovery.

Dr Henderson went on to explain: “BSP is a global leader in the application of Shell’s Smart Field Technology, and Champion West is both a frontrunner in the Shell Group and in the oil and gas industry.”

Contact Information

Andy Corrigan

Exploration & Production

Royal Dutch Shell plc

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