BRPC begins Mustang demob

Kay Cashman

Petroleum News

On May 20. Harry Bockmeulen, chief operating officer, Brooks Range Petroleum Corp., received approval from the Alaska Division of Oil and Gas to de-inventory pipelines and demobilize equipment and materials at the Mustang pad in the Southern Miluveach unit, as requested April 20 in BRPC’s proposed amendment to its SMU plan of operations.

The approval was retroactive to May 5 when the company began de-inventory work for the Mustang pad, which is on ADL 390680 approximately 16 miles east of Nuiqsut.

The North Slope’s newest producing unit, operated by BRPC, came online in November, averaging 478 barrels per day for 23 days from a single well. Total production for the month was 10,999 barrels. There has been no production from the field since November.

The de-inventorying process includes installing a nitrogen blanket and pipeline dampeners on seawater and crude oil sales pipelines, as well as pigging the seawater and sales lines between module 20 and module 53 pig launcher and receiver platforms.

Activities also include draining and blow-drying the seawater and crude oil sales lines between module 20 platform and module 22 tie-in platform; removing the spool between SDV-2220 and CP-HV-31506 and installing blind flanges on ends of SDV-2220 and CP-HV-31506; draining and purging on pad piping and piping within the lease automatic custody transfer (LACT) module securing the equipment and piping within the LACT module with plugs and blinds; electrically isolating and shutting down the air handling unit and installing plywood coverings over the AHU ducts; electrically isolating and shutting down the LACT and remote electrical and instrumentation modules; removing and storing temperature sensitive electrical equipment.

Scaffolding, temporary facilities, temperature sensitive electrical equipment, and some heavy equipment will be transferred to Deadhorse or Anchorage.

BRPC drilled the Mustang discovery well, North Tarn 1A, in January 2012 in the SMU, adjacent to the southwest edge of the Kuparuk River unit.