Douglas Complex
Encyclopedia
The Douglas Complex is a 54 metres (177.2 ft) high system of three linked platforms
in the Irish Sea
, 24 kilometres (14.9 mi) off the North Wales
coast. The Douglas oil field
was discovered in 1990, and production commenced in 1996. Now operated by BHP Billiton
, the complex consists of the wellhead
platform, which drills into the seabed
, a processing platform, which separates oil
, gas
and water, and thirdly an accommodation platform, which is composed of living quarters for the crew. This accommodation module was formerly the Morecambe Flame jack-up drilling rig
.
The Douglas Complex is also the control hub for other platforms in the area, and provides power for all platforms. It also offers recreational, catering and medical facilities for up to 80 personnel. Oil from the Lennox, Hamilton, and Hamilton North unmanned satellite platforms is received and blended at the complex.
Gas is sent through a pipeline
33.5 kilometres (20.8 mi) long to a processing plant at Point of Ayr
, in Flintshire
, North Wales. After processing, almost the entire output is sold to E.ON to fire the combined cycle gas turbine power station
at Connah's Quay
, on Deeside
, in Flintshire. Oil produced in Liverpool Bay
is sent through another pipeline, 17 km long, to the Offshore Storage Installation
, a permanently anchored barge
which acts as a floating oil terminal, capable of holding of oil. From the floating terminal oil is transferred to tankers approximately once every month.
Oil platform
An oil platform, also referred to as an offshore platform or, somewhat incorrectly, oil rig, is a lаrge structure with facilities to drill wells, to extract and process oil and natural gas, and to temporarily store product until it can be brought to shore for refining and marketing...
in the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
, 24 kilometres (14.9 mi) off the North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
coast. The Douglas oil field
Oil field
An oil field is a region with an abundance of oil wells extracting petroleum from below ground. Because the oil reservoirs typically extend over a large area, possibly several hundred kilometres across, full exploitation entails multiple wells scattered across the area...
was discovered in 1990, and production commenced in 1996. Now operated by BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
, the complex consists of the wellhead
Wellhead
A wellhead is a general term used to describe the component at the surface of an oil or gas well that provides the structural and pressure-containing interface for the drilling and production equipment....
platform, which drills into the seabed
Seabed
The seabed is the bottom of the ocean.- Ocean structure :Most of the oceans have a common structure, created by common physical phenomena, mainly from tectonic movement, and sediment from various sources...
, a processing platform, which separates oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
, gas
Gas
Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
and water, and thirdly an accommodation platform, which is composed of living quarters for the crew. This accommodation module was formerly the Morecambe Flame jack-up drilling rig
Jackup rig
A jack-up rig is a type of mobile platform that is able to stand still on the sea floor, resting on a number of supporting legs. The most popular designs use 3 independent legs, although some jackups have 4 legs or more...
.
The Douglas Complex is also the control hub for other platforms in the area, and provides power for all platforms. It also offers recreational, catering and medical facilities for up to 80 personnel. Oil from the Lennox, Hamilton, and Hamilton North unmanned satellite platforms is received and blended at the complex.
Gas is sent through a pipeline
Pipeline transport
Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....
33.5 kilometres (20.8 mi) long to a processing plant at Point of Ayr
Point of Ayr Gas Terminal
The Point of Ayr Gas Terminal is a gas terminal situated on the Point of Ayr in north Wales. It takes gas from BHP's Liverpool Bay Development.-History:...
, in Flintshire
Flintshire
Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
, North Wales. After processing, almost the entire output is sold to E.ON to fire the combined cycle gas turbine power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
at Connah's Quay
Connah's Quay
Connah's Quay is the largest town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying on the River Dee, near the border with England. It can be accessed by road from the A550, by rail from the nearby Shotton station and also lies on the National Cycle Network Route 5. It is situated near the region's industrial...
, on Deeside
Deeside
For Strathdee in Scotland see River Dee, AberdeenshireDeeside is the name given to the predominantly industrial conurbation of towns and villages that lie on, or near the River Dee in Chester. These include, Connah's Quay, Mancot, Pentre, Shotton, Queensferry, Sealand, Broughton, Hawarden,...
, in Flintshire. Oil produced in Liverpool Bay
Liverpool Bay
Liverpool Bay is a bay of the Irish Sea between northeast Wales, Cheshire, Lancashire and Merseyside to the east of the Irish Sea. The bay is a classic example of a region of freshwater influence...
is sent through another pipeline, 17 km long, to the Offshore Storage Installation
Offshore Storage Installation (Liverpool Bay)
The Offshore Storage Installation is a barge which is permanently anchored in Liverpool Bay, England, and receives oil from the Douglas Complex of oil platforms in the Irish Sea by way of pipelines under the sea. The facility thus serves as a floating oil terminal, and is capable of holding 870,000...
, a permanently anchored barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
which acts as a floating oil terminal, capable of holding of oil. From the floating terminal oil is transferred to tankers approximately once every month.
See also
- List of oil fields
- Geology of the United Kingdom
- Oil platformOil platformAn oil platform, also referred to as an offshore platform or, somewhat incorrectly, oil rig, is a lаrge structure with facilities to drill wells, to extract and process oil and natural gas, and to temporarily store product until it can be brought to shore for refining and marketing...
- Point of AyrPoint of AyrPoint of Ayr is the northernmost point of mainland Wales. It is situated immediately to the north of Talacre in Flintshire, at the mouth of the Dee estuary. It is to the southwest of the Liverpool Bay area of the Irish Sea...