BP Forties System The Largest Offshore Oil Gathering Network in the World

Study Scope

In it’s prime, the BP Forties oil gathering network was the largest offshore oil gathering network in the world. Hydraulic Analysis have analysed and optimised the performance of the BP Forties system for over 30 years, including on site operator training.  The system comprises the following key components:

  • A 169km long 36 inch diameter submarine pipeline from the Forties C platform to landfall at Cruden Bay on the north east coast of Scotland.
  • A 36 inch diameter buried landline from Cruden Bay running 209 kilometres to the Kerse of Kinneil processing plant on the Firth of Forth.
  • Four booster stations at Cruden Bay, Netherley, Bechin and Balbeggie.
  • A terminal at St. Fergus and a 12 inch diameter buried pipeline running 25 km from the gas processing facilities at St. Fergus to Cruden Bay.
  • An oil stabilisation, gas processing and sweetening plant at Kerse.
  • A tank farm at Dalmeny with capacity to store about 4 million barrels of stabilised crude oil with ballast handling and treatment facilities.
  • Two crude oil loading jetties connected to Dalmeny 5 kilometres away by 48inch and 40 inch loading pipelines and ballast lines.
  • Storage for propane, butane and condensate at Grangemouth docks together with export and tanker loading facilities and berthing.

forties-image2

System BP Forties
Location North Sea
Scope Analysis / Optimisation
Client BP
Study Date 1975 to 2009
Length 1600km
Fluid Crude Oil
Flowrate 1.4 million BPD

forties-image1