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Shell Malaysia today announced the first oil production from the deepwater Gumusut-Kakap (GK) field, located about 120km offshore Sabah, Malaysia.

This early production, achieved on November 18th, 2012, is ahead of the completion of the GK’s Floating Production System (FPS). This is made possible by an innovative linking or tie-back of two of GK’s production wells to the Kikeh production facility, the country’s first deepwater development also offshore Sabah, operated by Murphy Sabah Oil.

The GK field, located in waters up to 1,200 metres deep in Blocks J and K, is being developed using 19 subsea wells with oil to be exported via a pipeline to the Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal in Kimanis. The project will eventually employ the FPS — the region’s first deepwater FPS — once it is fully on stream, currently expected end 2013. The GK Kikeh tie-back early production option is an interim measure that is expected to bring an additional 25,000 barrels of oil per day to Malaysia.

“We are delighted that we have started production from the Gumusut-Kakap field.” said Iain Lo, Chairman of Shell Malaysia.

“The tie-back is an innovative solution that will allow us to produce from the GK field ahead of the completion of the FPS, currently being fabricated by Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering (MMHE) in Johor. We thank Murphy for their partnership and cooperation that has enabled this opportunity. We look forward to ramping up the production once the FPS goes on stream.”

Projects such as GK are critical to the industry’s long term sustainability in Malaysia as the country develops its deepwater resources. Shell is playing an active role in developing a deepwater service industry in Malaysia by bringing its technology and expertise into the country. The company began deep water exploration and production research in the 1960s and has been a global leader in deepwater exploration and production for the last 30 years.

In January last year, Shell announced an investment of RM5.1 billion to further develop oil and gas facilities across the country. The major part of which were three projects that included a new diesel processing unit at Port Dickson refinery, a new solid wax plant at Shell Middle Distillate Synthesis (SMDS) in Bintulu, Sarawak and the GK deepwater development offshore Sabah. The wax plant is now operational while the Port Dickson and GK projects are ongoing.

The Gumusut and Kakap fields were combined into a single development under a Unitisation and Unit Operating Agreement signed by co-ventures Shell Malaysia, Murphy Sabah Oil, PETRONAS Carigali and ConocoPhillips Sabah Ltd in 2006.  Shell Malaysia and ConocoPhillips Sabah Ltd each hold 33% interests in the development, PETRONAS Carigali has 20% and Murphy Sabah Oil Company Ltd has 14%. Shell Malaysia upstream company, Sabah Shell Petroleum Company, is the operator of the development.

ENQUIRIES:

Shell Media Relations
Asia: Serene Loo, serene.loo@shell.com, +65 97297294
        Cindy Lopez, cindy.lopez@shell.com, +6 012 282 1765

Malaysia: Norhayati Sulaiman-Adzhar, n.sulaiman@shell.com, +603 2091 3795

ABOUT SHELL MALAYSIA EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION

Operating as production sharing contractors to PETRONAS, Shell Malaysia’s exploration and production companies  are  engaged  in the exploration for and efficient development and extraction of crude oil and natural gas from offshore Sarawak and Sabah, with onshore operations and offices in Miri, Kota Kinabalu, Labuan, Bintulu and Kuala Lumpur. Shell also builds and operates the infrastructure needed to deliver hydrocarbons to market.

The pioneer of Malaysia’s exploration and production sector, Shell drilled Malaysia’s first commercial oil well in Miri, Sarawak in 1910. The company’s upstream base is still located in Miri after a century of operations.

 

source – shell.com