(WO) – PETRONAS recently commenced maiden gas production from the Kasawari field in Block SK316, approximately 200 km offshore Malaysia. The initial flow rate will be 200 MMcfd.

Block SK316 is operated by PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd (PETRONAS Carigali), which holds a 90% interest, while the remaining 10% is owned by Exploration and Production Malaysia Venture (EPMV).

Discovered in 2011, the Kasawari field is an important source of supply for both the PETRONAS LNG complex in Bintulu and for meeting the growing domestic gas demand. The field contains about 10 Tcf, with a gas sales rate of 545 MMcfd.

The Kasawari Gas Field Development Project (GFD) includes a central processing platform (CPP), a flare platform and a wellhead platform (WHP), all connected to the CPP by bridges.

Gas from the Kasawari field will be exported via an 81 km carbon steel pipeline to a new riser platform at the E11 production center and from there supplied to customers in Bintulu.

Fabrication work for the Kasawari platforms and bridges was carried out on site by Malaysia Marine & Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad (MHB) in Pasir Gudang and Ocean Might Sdn Bhd (OMSB) in Kuching. The CPP for the field is listed in the Malaysia Book of Records as the heaviest offshore structural platform with a total weight of 53,893 tonnes (MT).

Datuk Ir. Bacho Pilong, Senior Vice President of Malaysia Petroleum Management, said: “Kasawari is a testament to our local capabilities in executing large-scale projects. This feat, which involved more than 450 local subcontractors and suppliers, was achieved in 26.6 million man-hours.”