Emergency Response Plans: Strohm's TCP Flowlines for Woodside's Scarborough Offshore Gas Field
OE Staff
August 9, 2022
Strohm, the developer of Thermoplastic Composite Pipes (TCP) for offshore energy applications, has won a contract to manufacture and deliver two TCP flowlines for Australia-based Woodside Energy's giant Scarborough offshore gas project.
The company said its technology would form an integral part of the relief well emergency response plans for the well construction phase of the Scarborough field development.
The development of the Scarborough field in the Exmouth sub-basin off the coast of Western Australia, will feature up to 13 subsea production wells to be constructed and tied-back to a floating platform moored in water 900 meters deep. Gas from the field will be processed at the expanded Pluto liquefied natural gas export facility near Karratha. In its entirety, the development represents an investment of US$12 billion (A$16.2 billion).
The emergency response system, with two TCP Flowlines of 600-meter lengths, will be stored onshore for timely deployment to the field in the event of a drilling-related source control incident. Two floating drill rigs would pump high-density kill fluid, using well kill manifolds on the seabed. The TCP Flowlines would be laid on the seabed to connect the manifolds, facilitating the comingling of kill fluid to a relief well.
This is the first time TCP has been chosen for this application.
Strohm will deliver TCP Flowlines with each spooled onto storage and installation baskets which can be lowered to the seabed from a local Inspection, Maintenance and Repair (IMR) vessel of opportunity.
Strohm VP Middle East & Asia-Pacific, Fabienne Ellington said: “Having recently successfully installed a TCP Jumper for Woodside in its Julimar field, we are very proud our technology has been selected for their vital emergency response system. This collaboration further develops the strong working relationship between our two companies.”
Strohm Representative, Australia, Robby O’Sullivan added: “The Scarborough reservoir is one of Australia’s largest discoveries and is estimated to contain 11.1 trillion cubic feet (2P) of dry gas. TCP was chosen because it is a smoothbore, lightweight pipe and is easy to transport and deploy offshore making it ideal in the event of an emergency response situation. It is also very compact and can be safely stored on spools or pallets.
“This project is also important to our business as it increases Woodside Energy Ltd.’s familiarity with TCP for future consideration as it continues to evolve to higher specification materials and applications.”
Woodside Energy Well Delivery Manager Aaron McPhee said: “TCP Flowlines are another component in our suite of source control equipment for the Scarborough project. The technology allows us to implement a timely response as part of our source control plans.”
