K13 gas fields

The K13 gas fields were major natural gas producing fields in the Netherlands sector of the North Sea, about 130 km west of Den Helder. The fields started producing gas in 1975 but are no longer operational except for one installation used as a riser platform.

K13 gas fields
CountryNetherlands
RegionSouthern North Sea
Location/blocksK13
Offshore/onshoreoffshore
Coordinates53°13’06”N 03°13’14”E
OperatorPennzoil, Wintershall
Field history
Discovery1972
Start of production1975
Production
Producing formationsBunter sands and Rotliegendes

The fields

The K13 gas fields are located in the Southern North Sea. The K13 A field was discovered in 1972, followed by the B field in 1973, the E field in 1976 and the F field in 1977.[1] The gas reservoirs have the following properties:[1]

K13 field typical gas properties
K13–A K13–B K13–C K13–D
Producing horizon Middle Bunter sand (Triassic) Middle Bunter sand (Triassic) Rotliegendes sandstone (Permian) Rotliegendes sandstone (Permian)
Depth, metres 1,500 1,300 2,600 2,500

Development

The K13 reservoirs were developed by a number of offshore installations across the K13 Block. The K13-A complex was the hub of the field, it received gas from its bridge-linked riser platform and from K13 Block satellite platforms. The K13–C installation received gas from platform K10–B.[1]

K13 Field Offshore installations
Field Coordinates Water depth Platform Function Type Legs Well slots Installed (jacket & topsides) Production start Production to
K13–A 53°13’06”N 03°13’14”E 28 K13–A Wellhead Drilling and wellhead Steel jacket 4 9 September 1974, October 1975 February 1976 K13–A Production via bridge
28 K13–A Production Production, accommodation Steel jacket 8 0 May and October 1975 February 1975 Balgzand
K13–B 53°15’56”N 03°06’57”E 25 K13–B Satellite Satellite Steel jacket 4 6 August 1976 July 1977 K13–A
K13–C 24 K13–C Wellhead Drilling and wellhead Steel jacket 4 9 September 1977, July 1978 October 1978 K13–C Production via bridge
24 K13–C Production Production, accommodation Steel jacket 6 0 April and July 1978 October 1978 K13–A
K13–D 26 K13–D Satellite Satellite Steel jacket 4 6 April and July 1978 October 1978 K13–C


The K13-C complex also received gas from K10-B.

The pipelines in the field were:[1]

K13 Field pipelines
Start End Length, km Diameter, inches Fluid
K13–A Balgzand 129.6 36 Gas
K13–B K13–A 8.7 10 Gas
K13–B K13–A 8.7 2 Methanol
K13–C K13–A 10.3 20 Gas
K13–D K13–C 3.2 10 Gas


The main 36” gas pipeline had a capacity of 39 million cubic metres per day.[1]

Production

The process plant on K13–A comprises 2 trains each with one 3-phase separator. Gas flows through a suction scrubber to a 4,500 horse power compressor then via a filter separator to a gas/glycol contact tower. Condensate is pumped into the gas pipeline, water is discharged to the sea.[1]

The process plant on K13–C comprises 2 trains each with one 3-phase separator. Gas flows through a suction scrubber to a 4,500 horse power compressor then via a filter separator to a gas/glycol contact tower. Condensate is pumped into the gas pipeline, water is discharged to the sea.[1]

Peak production from the field was as follows (million standard cubic feet per day) in 1979:[1]

K13 Field Production
Field Production MMSCFD
K13–A 200
K13–B 100
K13–C 200
K13–D 130

In 1986 the K13 field produced 824.2 million cubic metres of gas.[2]

Since 1992 gas production from the Markham gas field has been routed via K13.[3] [4]

Decommissioning

In 1988 the five wells on production platform K13-D were plugged and abandoned. The same year, the topside of K13-D was moved to a new location in Netherland sector L8 becoming production platform L8-H.[5]

The K13B jacket was lifted out of the field in 1997.[6]

There is no longer any production from the original field or its satellite platforms.[7] but K13–A is used as a bypass platform to treat and transport gas from the J6-A production platform (Centrica) and the K5-A production platform (Total) via the WestGas Transport gas pipeline to Den Helder. Since 2019, K13-A is a normally unmanned platform.[5]

See also

References
  1. Oilfield Publications Limited (1985). The North Sea Platform Guide. Ledbury: Oilfield Publications Limited. pp. 387–401.
  2. "Natural gas and oil of the Netherlands 1986" (PDF). 1986. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  3. Kemp, Alex (2012). The Official History of North Sea oil and Gas Volume 1. London: Routledge. p. 388. ISBN 9781138019034.
  4. "Edison Energy for the future" (PDF). edison.it. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  5. "Wintershall Our Assets - Production platforms, subsea wells and an onshore gas treatment facility". wintershall-noordzee.nl. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  6. "German gas project will extend North Sea pipeline corridor". offshore-mag.com. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  7. "Natural gas and oil of the Netherlands 2007" (PDF). 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
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