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Tubular Bells had received a letter of award from Hess. In a news release issued at the time, the company said it

EPIC would handle “production handling, export pipeline, oil and gas gathering and gas processing services” for the proj-

Gulfstar system ect; in other words, it would design the engine that made the whole thing work.

Costing an estimated US$2.3 billion, nears completion

Tubular Bells was designed in the ever- popular “hub and spoke” delivery model. an old fashioned marriage of convenience. Under this layout, Gulfstar is the hub,

Williams’ Gulfstar foating

Hess frst discovered the Tubular Bells the center to which all resources will production spar (FPS) system feld in 2003, fnding reserves in waters eventually go. It will be connected to two is nearly complete, and set to ranging from 4300-4600ft on Mississippi subsea drill centers, which in turn will

Canyon Block 725. Most of the feld is be connected to three subsea production serve Hess’ Tubular Bells feld now located on MC 726. BP, the com- wells and two water injection wells. in mid-2014. Stephen Whitfeld pany behind the original discovery and Gulfstar’s platform was installed at subsequent appraisals, sold its stake in a depth of 4300ft. Its core module has provides an overview of the the feld to Hess and Chevron in 2010. the capacity to produce anywhere from spar’s development.

Hess is the controlling partner in Tubular 60,000 to 90,000 bo/d, but Hull expects

Bells, holding a 57.14% interest. Chevron to yield 120 billion bbl from Tubular t has been touted as the future, a job holds the remaining 42.86% stake. Bells, with peak production estimates creator, a source of vital infrastructural Williams was brought into the proj- coming at 40,000 to 45,000 boe/d.

I development mixed in with some old- ect in October 2011, fve months after

What is Gulfstar?

fashioned American pride.

The technology behind it is While new, Gulfstar’s not new, but its very exis- design is frmly rooted in tence may prove crucial to traditional concepts. As companies looking for a more the company had no spe- efficient direction in mid- cifc offshore location in sized feld development. mind when it conceptual-

Gulfstar is a floating ized the system, it had to production spar-based make it as fexible as pos- system, one of several to sible to adapt to the dif- come around in the last ferent logistics of a given few decades. Scheduled to site. That all changed after launch this year, it should Williams signed on for the spearhead major production Tubular Bells feld, thus for Williams Partners, its giving it parameters from creator and owner, and Hess which it could build and and Chevron, co-partners in operate.

Tubular Bells, a feld off the Gulfstar is a system

New Orleans coastline for with a classic spar hull which Gulfstar will serve as connected to a three-level the central processing facil- topside, with each deck – ity. The models have been a main deck, a production drawn, the parts built, and deck, and a cellar. The pieces are almost in place. hull was fabricated in an

And now, nearly three overlapping sequence to years after its initial commis- speed construction of the sion, the time is near for this module. This design was thing to show exactly what supposed to speed up the it can do. time from the discovery of reserves to frst produc-

Origins tion to about 30 months.

Upon frst glance, the part- The topside does not nership between Williams, feature a rig, only wells

Hess, and Chevron looks like based on wet-tree technol- ogy: the centerwell, 30-in.

Crews upended the Gulfstar diameter, is accessed via foating spar in February.

Photos: Williams Partners.

a valve tree attached to

April 2014 | OE oedigital.com 50 000_0414_EPIC2_Gulfstar.indd 50 3/22/14 10:19 PM