Environmental Statement - Maersk Oil

Balloch Field Development Environmental Statement
Section 2 Proposed Development
of 35 % on that used in 2011. Considering the oil, gas and PW production together, an estimated fuel
increase of 35 % on 2011 is expected to over estimate the maximum annual fuel required for
production of the Balloch fluids.
2.6.8. VENTING AND FLARING
The quantity of atmospheric gases vented from the GPIII is directly related to the volume of oil
offloaded. This is because the tankers are filled with inert combustion gases that are vented as oil
from the FPSO displaces them. In 2011 venting associated with the offloading of oil from the GPIII
resulted in the production of 16 te of CH4 and 1,933 te of VOCs. It is possible to predict the CH4 and
VOC emissions using factors provided in EEMS (2008). Predicted CH4 and VOC emissions associated
with the offloading of the Balloch oil in 2014 (year of maximum Balloch production) are 21 te and
2,488 respectively.
Development of the Balloch field will not substantially increase flaring on board the GPIII. Section
5.3.1 presents the 2011 flaring associated with the FPSO.
2.7. CHEMICAL USE
Maersk Oil aims to minimise the effect of the chemicals used/discharged during its operations. As
such, and as part of the chemical permitting process, Maersk Oil sets internal targets to reduce the
number of chemicals used with a substitution warning and/or product warnings. Wherever possible,
chemicals will be chosen which are PLONOR (Pose Little or No Risk to the environment) or are of a
Hazard Quotient (HQ) 1, this
indicates a possible risk of the discharge causing harm to the marine environment. This results in
further investigation of the product to determine if there is an alternative product that can be used
which produces a lower RQ or if the discharge can be diluted in order to reduce its RQ.
Chemical usage or discharge is assessed via the appropriate PON15D prior to any activity taking place.
Anticipated chemical requirements associated with the production of hydrocarbons from the Balloch
field are listed in Section 2.5.11.
2.8. PRODUCTION
Maximum (P10) anticipated production profiles have been developed for the proposed Balloch
development which forecast the likely volumes of oil, gas and water that will be produced from the
reservoir. These production profiles are based on the drilling of three production wells. First oil is
expected in Q3 2013 and production is expected to last 7 years, i.e. to the end of 2019. However, it is
possible that production may continue after this date as it is planned to extend the life of the GPIII via
infill well drilling and tiebacks that would in turn allow Balloch to continue producing. As a result,
production profiles are presented assuming a cessation of production (COP) at the end of 2026.
Assuming a COP at the end of 2026, high case production (P10) at the Balloch development is
anticipated to be approximately 3.9 million m 3 of oil and 313 million m 3 of gas. By the end of 2019,
3.59 million m 3 of oil and 313 million m 3 of gas are expected to have been recovered.
Anticipated production profiles for the Donan and Lochranza fields are also presented in order that
the impact of the proposed Balloch development on total production on the GPIII can be considered.
P50 (i.e. medium case) production profiles are presented for these fields as production to date has
been found to be more closely related to the calculated P50 profiles than to the P10 profiles. These
P50 profiles assume the drilling of two further infill wells.
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