View source for Buzzard oil field

{{Infobox oilfield
| name        = Buzzard Oil Field
| country     = [[United Kingdom]]
| region      = [[North Sea]]
| location    = 
| block       = 
| offonshore  = offshore
| coordinates = 
| operator    = [[CNOOC]] - 43%, 
| operators   = 
| partners    = [[Suncor Energy]] - 30%, [[BG Group]] - 22%, [[Edinburgh Oil & Gas]] - 5%
| image       = File:Buzzard - North Sea Oil Rig sails (geograph 1832631).jpg
| caption     = An [[oil platform]] departing [[Hartlepool]] for the Buzzard field in 2010
| discovery   = 2001
| start_development = 
| start_production = 2007
| peak_year   = 2009
| abandonment =
| oil_production_bbl/d = 85500
| oil_production_tpy =
| production_year_oil = 2020
| production_gas_mmcuft/d =
| production_gas_mmscm/d =
| production_gas_bcm/y =
| production_year_gas =
| est_oil_bbl = 1500
| est_oil_t   = 
| est_gas_bft = 
| est_gas_bcm = 
| formations  =
}}

The '''Buzzard Oil Field''' is an [[oil field]] located in the [[North Sea]] Blocks 19/10, 19/5a, 20/6 and 20/1s.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Offshore Oil and Gas Activity |url=https://ogauthority.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=adbe5a796f5c41c68fc762ea137a682e |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126213234/https://ogauthority.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=adbe5a796f5c41c68fc762ea137a682e |archive-date=2019-01-26 |access-date=25 November 2019 |website=Oil and Gas Authority}}</ref> It was discovered in 2001 by PanCanadian, and developed initially by PanCanadian's successor [[EnCana]] and then by [[Nexen]]. The oil field was initially operated and owned by [[Nexen]] which is now a subsidiary of China's [[China National Offshore Oil Corporation|CNOOC]].  

== The field ==
The total [[proven reserves]] of the Buzzard oil field are {{convert|1.5|e9oilbbl|e6m3|order=flip|abbr=off}}, and production will be centered on {{convert|180300|oilbbl|m3|order=flip}} per day.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.nalcorenergy.com/hebron.asp|title=Hebron|date=2012|publisher=nalcorenergy.com|accessdate=2013-05-29}}</ref>

The Buzzard reservoir has a low gas/oil ratio and requires pressure maintenance through water injection. Buzzard’s oil consists of medium sour crude: 32.6° API, 1.4% sulphur.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.offshore-technology.com/projects/buzzard/|title=Offshore Technology - Buzzard Field|last=|first=|date=|website=Offshore Technology|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041103171317/http://www.offshore-technology.com:80/projects/buzzard/ |archive-date=2004-11-03 |access-date=24 November 2019}}</ref>

== Infrastructure ==
The Buzzard field development comprises four bridge-linked steel platforms: the wellhead facilities (W) for up to 27 production wells, production facilities (P), a platform supporting accommodation and utilities (UQ) and an oil stripper platform (PS).<ref name=":1" />

== Processing ==
The oil processing facilities comprise a 3-phase (oil/vapour/water) Production Separator. Oil from the separator flows to the 3-phase Second Stage Separartor. Oil from the latter is 'spiked' with [[Natural-gas condensate|Natural Gas Liquids]] (NGL) from the gas dewpointing plant, then injected with a [[Hydrogen sulfide|hydrogen sulphide]] (H<sub>2</sub>S) scavenger chemical prior to metering and export.<ref name=":2">Process Sketch Oil and Gas export (2006)</ref>

Produced water from the Second Stage Separator is recycled to the Production Separator, and from there to the produced water treatment facilities using [[hydrocyclone]]s before overboard disposal.<ref name=":2" />

Vapour from the two Separators is compressed in an Offgas Compressor and a LP/HP compressor. Compressed gas passes through a [[Mercury (element)|Mercury]] Removal Bed and an Acid Gas Removal system, which uses a [[counter-current flow]] of [[amine]] solvent, and then through a [[Thiol|Mercaptans]] Removal Bed. The gas is dehydrated in a gas dehydration system which uses a counter-current flow of [[glycol]]. After dehydration the gas is cooled and passes through a [[Joule–Thomson effect|Joule-Thomson]] valve to reduce its pressure and hence its temperature to remove liquids and achieve a gas hydrocarbon [[Dew point|dewpoint]]. Natural Gas Liquids are separated and co-mingled with the export oil stream. Gas is compressed in the HP Compressors, some is used as [[gas lift]] on the production wells, some as fuel gas, and the remainder is exported.<ref name=":2" />   

== Export ==
Oil is exported from Buzzard via an 18 inch pipeline from the Buzzard processing platform to the nearest point in the [[Forties pipeline system|Forties]] to Cruden Bay System, approximately 28&nbsp;km away. Oil flows to Cruden Bay and then onto the Kinneil Terminal. First oil was produced in December 2006.<ref name=":1" />

Gas is exported via a {{convert|10|inch|mm|order=flip}} pipeline from Buzzard to the Captain ‘T’ point on the UK [[Frigg gas field|Frigg]] pipeline 29&nbsp;km away. From there the gas is transported to the [[St Fergus Gas Terminal|St Fergus]] Gas Terminal. Fuel gas can also be imported onto Buzzard from the Frigg pipeline.<ref name=":0" />

==Production history==
Buzzard was the largest discovery in UK waters for 20 years when it was found in 2001 and went on to become the largest-producing field in the region after starting up in 2007.

Once at a peak of more than {{convert|220,000|oilbbl|m3|abbr=off|order=flip|lk=on}} of [[oil equivalent]] per day in 2009, production has decreased to {{convert|85,500|oilbbl|m3|abbr=off|order=flip}} of oil equivalent per day as of May 2020, according to Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) figures.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/260398/cnooc-postpones-buzzard-phase-2/ | title=Updated: CNOOC postpones Buzzard Phase 2 project to extend life of North Sea mega-field - News for the Energy Sector | date=25 August 2020 }}</ref>

Buzzard was temporarily shutdown twice in late 2019 for repairs to topside pipework.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=4 October 2019 |title=Buzzard Oil Field shutdown for repairs |url=https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/209191/buzzard-oilfield-shut-down-for-repairs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805023349/https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/209191/buzzard-oilfield-shut-down-for-repairs/ |archive-date=2020-08-05 |access-date=25 November 2019 |website=Energy Voice}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=21 October 2019 |title=Buzzard oil field shutdown again as repairs compromised |url=https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/210132/buzzard-oil-field-shutdown-again-as-repairs-compromised/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022021505/https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/210132/buzzard-oil-field-shutdown-again-as-repairs-compromised/ |archive-date=2019-10-22 |access-date=25 November 2019 |website=Energy Voice}}</ref>

==Expansion==
Buzzard Phase 2 is a bid to go after additional reserves to the north of the main field with a subsea development tied-back to it, with expected peak production of {{convert|37,000|oilbbl|m3|abbr=off|order=flip}} of oil equivalent per day.

The first stage includes installation of a subsea manifold, a new processing module for the platform and drilling of four production wells. First oil from Buzzard Phase 2 was expected in late 2020 but as of August 2020, CNOOC postponed the project to 2021. Chrysaor stated that the drilling results for Buzzard Phase 2 was "towards the lower end of expectations," with the project now expected to come on stream in December 2021.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/natural-gas/121620-oilgram-emea-north-sea-producer-chrysaor-eyes-2021-output-drop-muted-buzzard-production| title = North Sea producer Chrysaor eyes 2021 output drop, muted Buzzard production {{!}} S&P Global Platts| date = 16 December 2020}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{coord missing|North Sea}}

[[Category:North Sea oil fields]]
[[Category:Oil fields of the United Kingdom]]