BP to boost output from fields off Trinidad with compression project

Oil major BP will boost its production from the Columbus Basin, located offshore Trinidad, with a newly-sanctioned compression project. 

BP Trinidad and Tobago (bpTT) operates in 904,000 acres offshore Trinidad’s east coast and it has 13 offshore platforms, and two onshore processing facilities.

The company, together with Atlantic LNG, on Friday announced the sanction of the Trinidad Onshore Compression (TROC) project.

After finalization of key project agreements between the Atlantic shareholders, the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago and other directly impacted upstream stakeholders, the TROC Project received final approval on July 26, 2016, BP said on Friday.

The project is 100% funded and owned by bpTT and will be operated by Atlantic. It is designed to increase production from low-pressure wells in bpTT’s existing acreage in the offshore Columbus Basin using an additional inlet compressor at the Point Fortin Atlantic LNG plant. Additional upgrades will be made to bpTT’s upstream facilities, as well as those of third parties to accommodate operations of the compressor.

The majority of the construction work will be handled by Atlantic with BP and other shareholder representation. The mechanical completion and commissioning of the TROC compressor at Atlantic will take place over the next few months and start-up is planned for early 2017.

When it comes on stream, the TROC project has the potential to deliver approximately 200 million standard cubic feet of gas per day in 2017.

BP Trinidad and Tobago Regional President Norman Christie commented: “The investment by bpTT has been significant and will result in increased gas accessibility from our offshore fields to help alleviate the current gas supply shortfalls. We are pleased that the project is progressing and look forward to the start-up of the compressor in early 2017.”