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Gumusut-Kakap

Shell has been a leader in deepwater exploration and production for the last 30 years. The Gumusut-Kakap field offshore Malaysia lies in water depth up to 1,220 metres deep. Shell has a 33% interest in this development.

Key facts

Location:	Sabah, Malaysia
Depth:	~1,220 metres
Interests:	Shell 33% (operator), ConocoPhillips Sabah 33%, Petronas Carigali 20%, Murphy Sabah Oil 14%
Fields:	Gumusut-Kakap
Design Production:	135 kbbl/d
Key contractors:	MISC Berhad, FMC Technologies, Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering, Atwood Oceanics, JP Kenny

Technology

The Gumusut-Kakap field is the first deepwater opportunity for Shell in Malaysia. Sabah Shell Petroleum Company will be operator of the development, which will employ Malaysia’s first deepwater semi-submersible production system. The field will be developed using 19 subsea wells with oil exported via a pipeline to a new oil and gas terminal, which will be built in Kimanis, Sabah. The production system will have a capacity of 135,000 bbl/d. Natural gas that is produced along with the oil will be re-injected into the reservoir to help improve oil recovery.

Environment and society

Social and environmental responsibility is a central pillar of Shell’s operations. In Malaysia, Shell continues to have a significant social investment programme focused on capacity building, environmental conservation and community development.

A programme run in conjunction with the Sabah and Sarawak Education Departments is specifically aimed at training qualified welders, to meet industry shortfalls for this skillpool. The Shell Traffic Education Programme, first implemented in 1957, sees tens of thousands of students from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions throughout Malaysia participate in road safety education programmes annually.

In the environmental area, Shell has initiated activities to promote and enhance environmental awareness in Sarawak and Sabah; for example, the SERASI (environmentally-friendly school competition) and the Nature Camp programmes for schools. In addition, Shell supports research and environmental conservation efforts in Sabah’s pristine areas of Danum Valley and Maliau Basin as well as dolphin conservation programme along Sarawak coastline.

Current developments

The semi-submersible production system for Gumusut-Kakap field is being constructed by Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering’s fabrication yard in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia. Development drilling commenced in January 2008 and the field will be using 19 subsea wells with oil exported via a pipeline to a new oil and gas terminal, which will be built in Kimanis, Sabah.