Alwyn North

Alwyn sits in 126m of water and consists of two platforms which are linked by a 73m long bridge. Alwyn North 'A' (NAA) is the drilling and accommodation platform. Alwyn North 'B' (NAB) is the processing and treatment platform. The bridge between the two platforms provides a walkway and, in addition, carries the oil and gas between the drilling and well facilities on NAA, and the process facilities on NAB. The bridge also carries the links for systems common to both platforms – electrical power, fire and gas control, the emergency shut-down system, process control and tele-communications.


Export

Oil from Alwyn is transported via Cormorant Alpha and the Brent pipeline system to the Sullom Voe Oil Terminal in Shetland. Gas is transported via the Frigg pipeline system to our St Fergus Gas Terminal near Peterhead.


An industry innovation

Designed in the eighties, Alwyn North's use of two bridge-linked platforms was an industry innovation. Separating the drilling and treatment facilities offered numerous advantages with safety being the most important consideration. This design also allowed the NAA platform to be installed and to begin drilling operations a year before NAB.


Additional safety features

The 108 cabins on NAA are contained within the safe refuge area on the platform. A thick fire wall protects the accommodation area from the drilling module. The platform has been designed to withstand winds of more than 100 miles an hour and 100 foot waves.


A technological leader

Miscible gas injection and infill drilling was recently introduced on Alwyn to create additional value from this maturing field. In addition, the gas processing capabilities have been increased significantly from 9 to 17.5 million standard cubic metres of gas per day to adapt to the increasing proportion of gas being produced from the area. Our introduction and investment in this technology has increased recovery from the reservoir by around 13%.

Also in an effort to continually improve performance on Alwyn, a new drilling technique was recently used on one of its wells with excellent results – running a powerdrive rotary steerable drilling tool and downhole motor in the same drilling string. This technique has only been used a few times before around the world and it is the first time it has been tried by the Total Group.

Platform Type :
Steel jacket, 8 legs