Partner Experience:
Equatorial Guinea
Paula Bremer
Marathon Equatorial Guinea Production Limited (MEGPL)
Natural Gas STAR Implementation Workshop
Equatorial Guinea: Alba Field
Four offshore production
platforms
Onshore gas/condensate
processing facilities
Current production (gross)
– 945 mmscf/d gas
– ~60,000 bpd condensate
Currently re-injecting 20
mmcf/d (normal operations)
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Location of Alba Field
Regional Map
18 miles northwest of
Bioko Island
Punta Europa Gas/
Condensate Processing
Facilities
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Location of Punta Europa Facilities
Marathon Equatorial Atlantic Methanol
Guinea Production Production
Limited (MEGPL) Company LLC
(AMPCO)
Equatorial Guinea
LNG Operations S.A.
(EG LNG)
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Alba Platform Operations
Alba C
Alba A
Alba B
Alba B2
Potential 600
MMSFCD 945 MMSCFD
Gas Re-injected Gas Production
60,000 BPD
Condensate
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Punta Europa Processing Facilities
Condensate EG LNG
AMPCO
LPG Plant
MEGPL
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Alba Field – History of Operations
April 1984 Discovery well 13B1-1X drilled
December 1991 First Production (A platform: Alba 2, Alba 3)
November 1996 LPG Plant construction complete (2,400 bpd)
September 2000 Phase 1 Development
Offshore re- injection of gas commences
February 2001 Methanol production begins
January 2002 Marathon acquires Alba assets
October 2004 Phase 2A Complete
Continuous flaring ceases
May 2007 LNG Plant begins production
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Natural Gas STAR Partnership
U.S. Natural Gas STAR Partner – 1994
International Gas STAR Partner – 2006
MOC was a charter member of both the U.S.
and International Natural Gas STAR
programs.
Awarded Production Partner of the Year –
1997 and 2006
Cumulative methane reductions of 51.6 Bcf
between 1994 and 2007
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Methane Reduction Projects
Two categories of projects – all relate to
reductions in flaring of natural gas
– Process Control Modifications
– Equipment Modifications/Installation
Methane Reductions
3500
3000
Equipment Modifications
2500 /Installations
mmscf
2000 Process Control Modifications
1500
1000 Total Reductions
500
0
2006 2007 2008
Year
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Flaring Reductions
Flare vs Gas Production Ratio
mmcf flared / bcf produced
500
400
300
200
100
0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
(est)
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Process Control Modifications
Reviewed emergency shutdown (ESD) settings –
too high/low
Eliminated single-point failure controls (where
possible) – reduces affect of “false” data in
controls
Reviewed interconnected controls – allows for
quicker/automatic load transitions between
redundant equipment
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Equipment Modification/Installation
Installed redundant equipment – increases
capacity to allow for maintenance without product
loss
Re-routed vapors away from the flare and back
into the process where feasible
Installed pump to improve water handling
capabilities
Overhead compressors re-routed scrubber liquid
to a closed drain system (from pressure process
vessel)
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Methane Reduction - Economics
Natural gas is low value commodity for
MEGPL under it’s present supply
contracts
Project economics are typically driven
by lost production or value of liquid
recoveries from the gas
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Lessons Learned:
Improve the quality of data used for emission
calculations – lack of meters, documentation,
etc. You need to know where your losses are!
Capture “low hanging fruit” – review ESD set
points, control logic, etc
Operations and maintenance need to be
engaged – not just an environmental issue.
Moving from construction to operation
mentality takes time and effort.
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MEGPL – Government Interaction
Limited environmental regulations – don’t
address air emissions/greenhouse gases
Proactive – prepare a “Flaring
Philosophy” document each year for
review with the Ministry of Mines, Industry
and Energy (MMIE)
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MEGPL - Social Responsibility
Malaria Control Project – public/private
partnership to reduce malaria rate.
– Eliminated 95% of disease transmitting
mosquitoes and reduced infection
rates by 45% reduction in malaria
Education Scholarships – Texas A&M
and University of South Carolina
Malabo Landfill – Construction of
landfill used for waste generated on
island. Operation of landfill by Malabo
City Hall
Books for Bioko – employee driven
program to provide school supplies for
local schools
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