The Leadon development solution was chosen, the field developed and first oil produced in just under 20 months from proving the field commercial.
The safety case regulations were introduced in 1992. They were followed three years later by an amendment specifically for fire, escape, rescue and explosion, then in 1996 by the design and construction amendments.
Kerr-McGee made sure that the facilities solutions for the development would meet the high standards of safety required for the North Sea. Good safety engineering does not have to be expensive, says Peter Addy, Kerr-McGees Leadon development manager.
Addy adds, We were determined to do it right first time with the realisation that by taking a comprehensive approach to safety engineering up front we could meet or exceed the legislative requirements within the project timescale.
1,500 verification reports
Between commencing fitting topsides to the FPSO Global Producer III and the field beginning to produce oil last autumn, DNV completed a total of 1,500 verification reports. This is one of the first occasions that a development has been carried out in accordance with a full verification scheme. Development of the Leadon field has been a challenge for DNV, during which it has been effectively a member of a joint engineering, construction and production team.
DNV project manager Steve Gallon explains, We had to move into KerrMcGees organisation to carry out the significant scope of work at the pace required to keep track with the project. This involved integrating into the project engineering organisation, including taking on KMG e-mail addresses and dedicated desk spaces. The document submission, reply and re-submission loop was eliminated thanks to dialogue and resolution of issues up front; Kerr-McGee drove and encouraged this approach and it worked well.
Brian Elliot, Kerr-McGee engineering manager, adds, We quickly realised the value of integrating DNV into the engineering team. This real-time environment removed unnecessary interfaces and gave a clear understanding of the project performance standards between Kerr-McGee as dutyholder, and DNV, as independent competent person. The schedule could not have been achieved without good co-operation between the project team and DNV.
Adds Gallon, Both offshore and at site, Kerr-McGee allowed DNV the access and resources essential to carry out the verification process and deliver our reports on time. This provided a high level of confidence at having met the systems performance standards at first oil.
Kerr-McGee pioneered the use of a permanently moored FPSO during 1992 and 1993 in an ambitious plan for the Gryphon field one of the Leadon fields neighbours.
The experience gained from Gryphon has been applied to the Leadon field.
We looked carefully at the lessons and good practices learned from Gryphon and other more recent projects, then fed them into the Leadon project, Addy concludes, and this contributed greatly to our ability to develop the field against a tight schedule.