Ithaca Energy UK

The field includes a wellhead protector platform and bridge linked platform connected to a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel and two subsea manifolds tied back and connected to the platforms by a suite of pipelines.

Captain crude oil is offloaded from the FPSO offloading vessel to a dynamically positioned shuttle tanker and transported to customers. Captain gas is exported (and imported) via subsea pipeline to the Frigg UK Gas Transportation System and then on to St Fergus gas terminal.

In 2020, daily production averaged 25,520 barrels of liquids and 3.0 million cubic feet of natural gas.

Katoni Engineering in Aberdeen have recently been contracted by Ithaca to conduct a 3-month review of the level technologies being deployed on the Captain assets. It was determined a polymer EOR being injected into their wells to improve existing water flood systems was coating the incumbent level technology. As a result of this displacers were being weighed down and the radiation beams from internal nucleonic sources blocked.

During discussions with Katoni and Ithaca’s lead instrument support team, ABLE introduced Magnetrol’s highly innovative Genesis Multiphase Detector, a TDR based level detection system using patented concurrent Top-Down and Bottom-Up signal generation.

ABLE proposed the Pentarod variant of Genesis as its open design and flushing connection negates build-up, bridging and crystallisation problems. The flushing port allows the operator to purge the inside of the probes during routine maintenance.

It was suggested that Genesis be installed on two free water knockout (FWKO) vessels, a pressure vessel that uses the concept of residence time to separate three substances, water, oil & gas. A free water knockout (commonly abbreviated FWKO) is an oil and gas production vessel designed to separate free water from oil and gas. This vessel is mainly found in the upstream sector of the energy industry.

Different production fields have their own criteria as to when to use a free water knockout. OEMs most commonly design FWKOs for mechanical separation with baffles and inlet diversion plates. There are multiple sizes of these vessels, and knowing the fluid volume and fluid properties is important to getting the correct vessel on location.

Both units will be trialled from September this year until May 2024 with Ithaca having made a substantial down payment to procure the instrumentation and commissioning services. The criteria for final payment will be the accurate tracking and definition of the free water, oil and gas.