Ithaca Plans Stella Field Start-Up in November

Ithaca Energy informed that it is progressing with the final stages of Stella development, with the first production from the field expected in November 2016.

The FPF-1 floating production facility was safely towed to the field, moored on location and the dynamic risers and umbilical connecting the subsea infrastructure to the vessel were installed as planned, the company informed.

Technip is now in the process of concluding the remaining subsea commissioning works.

At the same time the FPF-1 offshore commissioning programme is on-going, with preparation of the topsides processing and utility systems for the introduction of hydrocarbons underway.

In addition, the company said that the significant progress was made on the work programme associated with making the switch from tanker loading to oil pipeline exports for the Greater Stella Area in 2017.

In September, the installation of spurline from the FPF-1 to the Norpipe system was completed.

The manufacture and installation of pipeline export pumps on the FPF-1 and the final subsea connections that need undertaking immediately prior to the switchover remain to be completed before the production start-up, Ithaca said.