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The gas from the Baltic B8 deposit sailed to land
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
LOTOS Petrobaltic launched a system of drying, compressing and exporting gas at the PETROBALTIC offshore oil mine working on the B8 deposit in the Baltic Sea on 1 October. The gas accompanying oil extracted from the deposit flows by an underwater pipeline of 75 km to Władysławów, to Energobaltic. In its CHP plant is produced heat energy transferred to the urban heating network.
On the PETROBALTIC platform, gas is separated from oil. Dried and compressed, in the form of the so-called dense phase, i.e. the suspension of hydrocarbons in dry gas, is sent by offshore gas pipeline to the gas separation station in the district of CHP in Władysławów. The gas pipeline is 75 km long and its diameter is 115 mm. The pressure of the gas is 10-13 MPa.
– All work related to the construction of the underwater pipeline was done by crews of the sea units LOTOS Petrobaltic, competently supervised by the technical department engineers of the company, in support of platform crews and LOTOS Service. This shows that we have the right equipment, high competence and skills in the offshore area. It should be remembered that the offshore industry in the Baltic Sea has very interesting development prospects in the MEW area, where our experience in the construction of underwater infrastructure can be used – says Grzegorz Strzelczyk, Chairman of the Board of LOTOS Petrobaltic.
B8 mining has been going on for over six years. Start of production was possible thanks to the adaptation of LOTOS PETROBALTIC drilling platform for mining work. In September 2019, the PETROBALTIC platform was placed next to the LOTOS Petrobaltic platform – the unit converted from the drilling platform into a modern production centre – a marine oil and gas mine. In September 2020, the Production Centre reached its full capacity in the areas of separation and oil transport, power supply and deposit water injection. The final stage in the development of the B8 deposit was the construction and commissioning of the pipeline from the platform to the mainland to Energibaltic in Władysławów.
– The construction of the pipeline required great determination and commitment from the employees of the B8 deposit management project, working under time pressure and coordinating many technical and weather elements. DI am particularly fond of ship crews professional preparation and safe implementation – says Artur Wójcikowski, Head of Technical Department LOTOS Petrobaltic and coordinator of the gas pipeline project.
Energobaltic Sp. z o.o. is a unique plant in Poland and even Europe. Since 2003, it uses natural gas accompanying crude oil mined by the Baltic Beta offshore oil mine on B3 deposit, also owned by LOTOS Petrobaltic.
– The connection of gas from the B8 pipeline did not require major investments in infrastructure of the gas reception and separation installations in Władysławów. The only additional elements were the new connection with the necessary fittings and automation and the piston acceptance station. The processing capacity of products separation installations in Wladyslawów already provided for the design of the supply not only from B3 deposits, but also B8 deposits. This project combines innovative technology and experience with environmental care – says Grzegorz Dyrmo, Chairman of the Energobaltic Board.
Energobaltic is one of the few production plants where the use of raw material reaches 100%, and the emissions of harmful products (storage and waste) have been reduced to a minimum. The production process in Energobaltic is two-stage. The first gas supplied from the platform separates heavy hydrocarbons, resulting in liquid propane-butane (LPG), natural gas condensate (KGN) and dry gas. In the second stage, dry gas is used to produce electricity and heat. The Wladyslawowo CHP plant has been equipped with two gas turbines, each cooperating in cogeneration with a recovery boiler. Turbo gas units may produce in combination electricity and heat with a combined power of 11 MWe and 17,7 MWt, respectively..
The supply of gas from B8 increased significantly the production of electricity supplied to the national energy grid. The produced energy is transferred to the urban heating network owned by Energobaltic. Currently, the urban heating network includes 148 heat nodes and 12.2 km pipelines. The total power ordered is 13.2 MW.
– The launch of supplies from B8 is also of vital importance for maintaining the continuity of heat supply to Władysławów during technological reviews on the Baltic Beta platform. To date, in the event of production being stopped at B3 deposit, it was necessary to buy expensive gas from the urban network. In addition, during the winter, the supply of gas from the B3 direction was not sufficient to cover the heat demand for Władysławów and here, too, additional gas purchases were needed. Now these problems should no longer exist and all the demand for gas will be met from the supply of B3 and B8 platforms. – says Zbigniew Olejniczak, Head of the Marine Affairs Team and of the Chief Executive Energobaltic.
The gas compression and export installation at the PETROBALTIC Production Center feeds separate deposit gas produced from B8. The installation is similar to land gas presses, but separates the heavy fractions in the extracted gas.
Source: Lotos
