Cuu Long JOC makes progress at shallow-water field scheme off Vietnam

Vietnam’s Cuu Long joint operating company is making steady progress on the full-field development of the Su Tu Trang (White Lion) gas and condensate field in the shallow-water Cuu Long basin.

The full-field development is being split into a series of phases, and follows on from an early production system that started up in 2012.

The first phase of the full-field development occurred in late 2016 via a reinjection platform dubbed ST-PIP which was bridge linked to the wellhead platform from the early production system.

PV Engineering, a subsidiary of national oil company PetroVietnam, did the front-end engineering and design for phase one of the development, while PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation’s mechanical and construction division (PTSC M&C) was the main contractor.

At that time, phase two of the full-field plan was suggested to be a major undertaking, with permanent larger facilities to be built and installed.

A big offshore central processing platform was supposed to be the anchoring production facility for phase two, but so far the platform has not come to the market.

Vietnam-based sources said, however, that the large offshore platform is still planned.

The full-field plan is progressing via Phase 2A and will be followed by Phase 2B.

A spokesperson for UK company Perenco, which is a part owner in the project, said Phase 2A consists of two additional wells and uses current facilities for export. Phase 2B will require a central gas facility platform to be installed and connected to the Nam Con Son II pipeline, which is currently being laid.

The spokesperson added that the Phase 2B field development plan is still a work in progress.

To underpin Phase 2A, the Cuu Long group has just signed a gas sales agreement with PetroVietnam, which said on its website that Phase 2A is expected to start production of commercial gas in 2021 at an annual rate of about 600 million cubic metres of gas and nearly 1 million barrels of condensate.

“The (Phase 2A) project will contribute significant revenues to the group and the state budget as well as guaranteeing commitments to supply gas,” said the state-owned company, adding that the joint venture partners and services contractors would also benefit.

The Su Tu Trang field is one of several large discoveries in Block 15-1 in the Cuu Long basin, but is the only major gas field.

Production is between 155 and 160 million cubic feet per day of gas and 17,000 barrels per day of condensate, said the Perenco spokesperson.

The Su Tu Den oilfield was the first to come on stream in Block 15-1 in 2003 and then came the Su Tu Vang field in 2008, followed by Su Tu Den North-East in 2010 and, three years later, Su Tu Vang North East. The Su Tu Nau oilfield came on line in 2014.

The Su Tu Trang field is about 20 kilometres south of the Su Tu Vang field in about 56 metres of water.

The partners in the Cuu Long joint operating company are Perenco with a 23.25% interest, PetroVietnam (50%), Korean National Oil Corporation (14.25%), SK Corporation (9%) and France's Geopetrol (3.5%).