The Stybarrow and Eskdale oil fields development represents the first deep water development by BHP Billiton in Australia and Australia’s deepest development at a water depth of approx. 825 m. The joint venture partners are BHP Billiton (50% and Operator) and Woodside Energy Limited (50%). The development drilling campaign resulted in the successful construction of 3 water injection wells and 4 horizontal production wells at Stybarrow; and a single oil production well and gas injection well at Eskdale.

The Client

BHP Billiton

The Scope

After a successful exploration and appraisal campaign, Nautec personnel assisted BHP Billiton with the design and planning of the development wells which included horizontal oil producers, deviated water injectors and a vertical gas injector.

This work included:

  • conceptual well design and input into the field development plan
  • completion time and cost estimation for AFE,
  • material selection and tubing stress analysis
  • completion equipment specifications
  • tender documents for completion equipment and related services, including sand control
  • evaluation of tenders, contract negotiations and vendor management
  • completion installation procedures
  • interfacing with other parts of project team including drilling, subsurface, production technology, subsea engineering, production operations

It was concluded from the study and design that all production wells would require:

  • horizontal open hole gravel packs for production wells
  • deviated water injectors with wire wrapped screens
  • pressure actuated formation isolation valve
  • permanent downhole gauges
  • gas lift mandrels
  • deep set tubing retrievable subsurface safety valve 5-1/2” and 7” tubing for producers with design production rates of up to 35,000 bpd

The Value Added

Nautec was able to deliver a completion design for the deep water high oil reserve Stybarrow Field which incorporated innovative designs enabling a sand free production and a deliverability above expectations when the field was brought online earlier this; producing on average 50,000+ bpd from wells, with the capacity to produce up to of 80,000 bpd.

The open hole horizontal gravel packs were successfully installed, well deliverability exceeded expectations without sand production. The field commenced production in November 2007, two month ahead of schedule. Note: AWT was not involved in the execution phase of the project.