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Buzzard

The Buzzard Production Platform is one of four bridge-linked fixed steel platforms in the Buzzard oil field in the UK Central North Sea. Installed for first production in 2007, it hosts major fluid processing equipment handling oil, gas and water separation along with water injection and compression for export to market. It is connected to the Wellhead (W), Utilities/Quarters (UQ) and Sweetening platforms.

Operator: CNOOC

Status: Operational

Buzzard platform photo

Image Source: CNOOC. (All rights belong to the original owner.)

Production: Oil

Operations start: 2006

Water depth: 97 m

Country: UK

Block: 20/06a

Type: Fixed steel jacket

Field

The Buzzard oil field, discovered in 2001 and producing since 2007, is one of the largest oil fields in UK waters. It produces medium sour crude and associated gas from Upper Jurassic sandstone reservoirs and includes multiple integrated platforms handling drilling, processing, sweetening and support functions.

Facilities

The Buzzard Production Platform (P) sits on a four-leg jacket and is the primary hydrocarbon processing hub. It receives multiphase fluids from the Wellhead Platform (W) via infield flowlines. P houses large three-phase separators, water injection pumps, high- and low-pressure gas compressors, produced water handling (hydrocyclones), and gas conditioning systems. Stabilized oil is metered and exported via the Forties Pipeline System to the Kinneil Terminal (via Cruden Bay), while gas is treated and dehydrated to meet Frigg UK gas specifications before export via the UK Frigg gas pipeline to the St Fergus Gas Terminal. Water injection supports reservoir pressure maintenance. Utilities include diesel/electrical power generation, HVAC, instrument air, fire & gas detection, ESD systems, flare systems and integrated control via a distributed control system (DCS). Inter-platform bridges provide access and shared utilities with the UQ and PS platforms. The platform features helideck access, lifeboat provisions and structural design for Central North Sea metocean conditions.

Buzzard layout
Image Source: CNOOC. (All rights belong to the original owner.)

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