| Al Shaheen Oil Field | |
|---|---|
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| Country | Qatar |
| Region | Persian Gulf |
| Block(s) | 5 |
| Offshore/onshore | offshore |
| Coordinates | |
| Operator(s) | Maersk Oil Qatar AS |
| Partners | Maersk Oil Qatar Petroleum |
| Field history | |
| Discovery | 1992 |
| Start of production | 1994 |
| Production | |
| Current production of oil | 240,000 barrels per day (~1.2×107 t/a) |
| Year of current production of oil | 2006 |
| Producing formations | Khuff formation |
The Al Shaheen Oil Field is a production oil and gas field off the north east of coast of Qatar in the Persian Gulf, 180 kilometres (110 mi) north of Doha.[1] The oil field lies over the North Gas Field, the largest gas field in the world. The field is operated by Maersk Oil Qatar AS of Denmark under a production sharing agreement with Qatar Petroleum, on behalf of the state of Qatar.[2]
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The oil field was discovered in 1992 by Maersk Oil. The drilling of appraisal wells was completed in 1994 by using horizontal drilling techniques.[3][4] Regular oil production started at the same year. In 1995–1996, production facilities were extended with a subsea export pipelines, an additional single point mooring loading buoy, new process facilities and a STAR type wellhead platform.[3]
In April 2004, the extension area north of block 5 was included to the production sharing agreement agreement. Inauguration of new offshore facilities took place on 23 February 2005.[5]
In May 2008, GSF Rig 127 operated by Transocean drilled the world record extended reach well BD-04A in the field. The well was drilled incident free to a record measured depth of 40,320 ft (12,290 m) including a record horizontal reach of 35,770 ft (10,900 m) in 36 days.[6]
From 2004 until August 2009 the massive supertanker, Knock Nevis, the largest oil tanker built to date, was moored there as a floating storage and offloading unit (FSO).[7] In January 2010, she was replaced by FSO Asia, owned by Overseas Shipholding Group and Euronav.[8]
The oil and gas producing formation is the Upper Permian-Lower Triassic Khuff Formation. The field is described by low permeability, limited thickness, and geological complexity.[2]
The field consist of 131 operational production and water injection wells, 18 permanent platforms, and six production installations connected by 20 pipelines.[2] In 2006, Al Shaheen's production of 240,000 barrels per day (38,000 m3/d) accounted for a significant portion of Qatar's total oil production of 815,000 barrels per day (129,600 m3/d). Although the production capacity reaches 260,000 barrels per day (41,000 m3/d), the current actual production is only 200,000 barrels per day (32,000 m3/d) due to OPEC quotas.[2] A development plan between Maersk Oil and Qatar Petroleum is calling for an increase in field production to 525,000 barrels per day (83,500 m3/d). This increase is expected to account for the majority of growth in Qatar's petroleum output over this time.[9]
Oil is stored at the floating storage and offloading vessels Maran Canopus, Asto Canopus, and FSO Asia.[10] FSO Africa was to join FSO Asia; however, this contract was canceled by Maersk Oil.[11] Produced oil is transported to the Mesaieed Industrial City for processing and exporting. There is a plant to build a new 250,000-barrel-per-day (40,000 m3/d) refinery in Mesaieed to process oil from Al Shaheen; however, this plan is postponed.[12]
The Al-Shaheen field produces also the associated gas. The gas production is estimated about 220 million cubic feet per day (6.2×106 m3/d) of which 125–150 million cubic feet per day (3.5×106–4.2×106 m3/d) is exported through the North Field Alpha facilities to Mesaieed, 30 million cubic feet per day (850×103 m3/d) is consumed on-site for power and heat generation, and 40 million cubic feet per day (1.1×106 m3/d) is flared.[13]