BW Catcher FPSO Produces First Oil

The first oil from the BW Catcher floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit was produced on December 23, 2017, operator of FPSO units BW Offshore informed.

The initial hydrocarbon volumes were produced following a hook-up and commissioning period.

The FPSO arrived at the Premier Oil-operated Catcher field, offshore UK, on October 18, after it departed Keppel Shipyard in Singapore in late August and made a brief stopover at Nigg.

“The Catcher development project is nearing completion on time… We are very pleased with the effective hook-up and commissioning, which reflects extensive preparations through-out the construction phase and a well-planned offshore installation program,” Carl K. Arnet, the CEO of BW Offshore, commented.

BW Catcher is owned and operated by BW Offshore and will commence a seven-year fixed term contract, with extension options of up to 18 years. The Catcher field partnership is made up of Premier Oil (50%), Cairn Energy (20%), MOL Group (20%) and Dyas (10%).

The unit has an oil storage capacity of 650,000 barrels and a processing capacity of up to 60,000 barrels per day. The FPSO has a design life of 20 years of uninterrupted operations.