Husky to Build Offshore Platform at Argentia? (Canada)

Canada’s Husky Energy is today expected to announce its decision to construct the base of a Wellhead Production Platform on the Argentia Northside Peninsula, in Canada, The Telegram, Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest newspaper, has informed.

More precisely, the Canadian oil giant will build the Concrete Gravity Structure at Argentia, which is expected to have a significant positive impact on the economy of the Placentia area.

Argentia Management Authority Inc. (AMA) last year signed an Option to Lease with Husky Oil Operations Limited (Husky) for 20 hectares of waterfront property near Low Room Point on the Argentia Northside Peninsula.

Commenting on the occasion AMA Chair Hedley Burge last year said stated, “AMA has signed an agreement that would allow Husky to utilize Argentia to potentially carry out a major construction project in support of their offshore Newfoundland oil activities. This company enjoys a stellar business reputation in this province as the operators of the White Rose oil field and we are pleased and proud they have selected Argentia as their preferred site should they proceed with the Wellhead Platform (WHP) construction project”. 

According to a project description, sent by Husky in May 2012 to Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board, the development of a wellhead platform will enable future extension at the White Rose offshore field. The White Rose Field and satellite extensions are located approximately 350 kilometers east-southeast of St. John’s, NL in the Jeanne d’Arc Basin. Husky utilizes a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, the SeaRose, for production at the fields. The Wellhead Platform would include topsides supported by a concrete gravity structure (CGS).

The CGS will be constructed in the dry, meaning all concrete construction will be  completed in a de-watered graving dock. Upon completion of the CGS, the CGS  structure will be floated to one of two potential deep-water sites in Placentia Bay, where  it will be mated with the topsides structure. The WHP will then be towed to and installed  in the western portion of the White Rose field and tied back to the SeaRose FPSO.

The primary function of the WHP is drilling. There will be no oil storage in the CGS. All well fluids will be transported via subsea flowlines to the SeaRose FPSO for processing, storage and offloading. The design of the WHP will account for the risks posed by icebergs, sea ice and the harsh environmental conditions found offshore Newfoundland and Labrador. The productive life of the WHP facility is currently planned to be 25 years.

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October 10, 2013