Tubular Bells (Gulfstar 1)
Online
Operator:
Hess
Image Source: https://jpt.spe.org/hess-tie-back-deepwater-us-gulf-oil-discovery (All rights belong to the original owner.)
Type:
Oil & Gas
Design:
Spar
Installed:
2014
Facility:
Production
Water Depth:
1311
meters
Country:
USA - New Orleans District
Block:
MISSISSIPPI CANYON 60. Block 724
Intro
Tubular Bells is a deepwater floating production system in the Gulf of Mexico based on the Gulfstar FPS design, installed in 2014. It produces oil and gas and serves as a host facility for subsea wells. The installation is a compact floating unit designed for mid-scale developments, with export via pipeline infrastructure.
Field
The Tubular Bells field is located in Mississippi Canyon, Gulf of Mexico, producing from Miocene-age turbidite sandstone reservoirs. The field is moderate in scale and developed as a standalone subsea tie-back to a central floating production unit, typical of mid-size deepwater projects.
Facilities
Tubular Bells utilises a ship-shaped Gulfstar FPS moored via a spread mooring system. Subsea wells are tied back through manifolds and flowlines, with production routed to the FPS via flexible risers. Topside facilities include multi-stage oil and gas separation, gas compression, and produced water treatment. Oil is stabilised and exported via the Proteus Oil Pipeline system, while gas is compressed and exported through the KM Phoenix gas pipeline system. Produced water is treated prior to discharge. Subsea infrastructure includes electro-hydraulic umbilicals providing control, power, and chemical injection. Flow assurance is maintained through insulation and chemical dosing. Power generation is provided by onboard gas turbines. The compact FPS design enables cost-effective development of mid-sized fields while maintaining full processing capability and integration with regional export networks.
Similar Platforms
Image Source: "Chevron Taps Worley for Ballymore Tie-Back Work in Gulf of Mexico" - Offshore Engineer [https://www.oedigital.com/] (All rights belong to the original owner.)
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