L7 Field Cessation of Production (COP) and Way Forward

TEPNL's L7 field will cease its operation in 2017. The L7-C2 well is planned to stop production in august 2017, ending the 40 years gas production of the L7 field. An interview with Bernard Reith on this important event has been published on the WAT E&P page last week.

Preparations for the abandonment of the field are currently ongoing. The platforms will be brought into a 'Low Attended Installation' (LAI) status, which is established by a 'Make Safe' phase, consisting of the following works:

This year
for all satellites (i.e. L7-A, L7-B and BB, L7-H, L7-N as well as L4-B)

• removing all loose items & cleaning the platform
• removing all hydrocarbons from the platforms (hydrocarbon free)
• installing plugs in the wells that have not yet been abandoned
• stopping the diesel power generation and installing a solar skid to provide for the marine navigations aids
• decommissioning the helicopter deck

The L7-CC will be cleaned, made hydrocarbon free, all loose items will be removed and a temporary diesel power generation will be installed. By the end of 2017, L7-Q will close her doors and the platform will be unmanned after just more than 40 years of operations.

Next year
in 2018 the L7-CC pre abandonment activities will be completed (subject to concept being feasible and authority approval) and solar panels that are backed up by small wind turbines will be installed to support the marine navigations aids.

Once the remaining wells are plugged and abandoned, the platforms will be removed as part of a decommissioning campaign starting in the early 2020s.  During the waiting period, it is expected to attend the platforms once a year for inspection and maintenance of the remaining safety critical elements.