Sub-sea pipeline from PY-1 ready for first gas
Private sector explorer Hindustan Oil Exploration Company (HOEC) is gearing up to begin first production from the PY-1 gasfield offshore Tamil Nadu following completion of a 56-km sub-sea gas pipeline to shore.
PETROWATCH learns contractors working for HOEC completed a 72-hour operation to hydro-test the 14-inch pipeline on Tuesday (June 9) in preparation for first gas from PY-1, where BSE-listed and part-Eni owned HOEC is operator with 100%. Work to lay the pipeline began in January this year when Houston-based marine contractor Cal Dive International deployed the pipe laying and platform installation barge Sea Horizon.
From January Sea Horizon stayed at PY-1 until end-April after first installing a nine-slot production platform, followed by the pipeline and riser before returning to Singapore. “At the height of activity there were up to 20 vessels operating,†we hear.
“Barges, support vessels and dredgers were present.†Marine contractor Fugro provided pipe-laying support services and positioning support for the platform.
PY-1 sits 40-km offshore the ancient settlement of Porto Nuovo on the Tamil Nadu coast and contractors project tell us the gas landfall point is 10-km south of the Poombukar township on the Tamil Nadu coast, near a Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) used for naphtha imports by local electricity generation company PPN Power for its combined cycle 330-MW power plant at Pillaiperumalnallur. PPN is sole customer for PY-1 gas and on April 28, 2007 signed a Gas Sales Agreement (GSA) for 51,000-mmbtu/day (1.3m cm/d) at $3.75/mmbtu for the first two years, increasing to $3.85 for the next two years and $3.95 for years five and six.
On January 25, 2007, HOEC announced it had drilled a horizontal producer (â€کEarth’) at PY-1 to 2351 metres and that results “confirmed satisfactory well deliverability.†â€کEarth’ was later suspended before being â€کtied-in’ to the production platform last month (May).
Jack-up Deep Driller 8 hired by HOEC to drill three firm and two optional wells is now preparing to drill two additional producers called â€کMercury’ and â€کJupiter’.