View source for Douglas Complex

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox Oil field
| name = Douglas Field
| image = Douglas oil complex, Irish Sea off North Wales.jpg
| caption = Douglas Oil Complex in the Irish Sea 15 miles off North Wales
| region = [[Irish Sea#East Irish Sea Basin|East Irish Sea Basin]]
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|53.5380|-3.5768|display=title|region:GB_scale:100000}}
| location_map = North Sea
| relief = yes
| locblock = UK Block 110/13
| offonshore = offshore
| operator = [[Eni]]
| partners =
| discovery = 1990
| startofproduction = February 1996
| est_oil_bbl = 225
| producingformations = Triassic Helsby Sandstone Formation
}}

The '''Douglas Complex''' is a {{convert|54|m|ft|adj=on}} high system of three linked [[oil platform|platforms]] in the [[Irish Sea]], {{convert|24|km}}<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.offshore-technology.com/projects/bhp/bhp1.html| title=Offshore Liverpool Bay Development| work=Offshore Technology| accessdate=2007-12-03}}</ref> off the [[North Wales]] coast. The Douglas [[oil field]] was discovered in 1990, and production commenced in 1996.  Now operated by [[Eni]], the complex consists of the [[wellhead]] platform, which drills into the [[seabed]], a processing platform, which separates [[oil]], [[Natural gas|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 [[Jackup rig|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&nbsp;personnel.<ref name=vp>{{cite web| url=http://www.prestatyn.org.uk/offshore.industry/| title=Offshore Industry| work=Virtual Prestatyn| accessdate=2007-12-03| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071024180755/http://www.prestatyn.org.uk/offshore.industry/| archivedate = October 24, 2007}}</ref> Oil from the Lennox, Hamilton, and Hamilton North unmanned satellite platforms is received and blended at the complex.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/avt/avt113.html| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110522043202/http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/avt/avt113.html| archivedate= 2011-05-22| title= Hazardous area instrumentation is all at sea | work= Engineering Talk | date=2006-05-09 | accessdate=2007-12-12}}</ref>

Fluids from the Lennox installation via the gas pipeline are treated on the Douglas installation in the 3-phase (oil, gas and produced water) Lennox Production Separator.<ref name=":0">PFD Separation and Stripping, undated</ref> Following separation, gas flows to the Offgas Compressor suction manifold. Oil is directed to the Oil Stripper where the liquid is stripped of sour gas using a [[counter-current flow]] of stripping gas. Produced water from the separator is directed to the Produced Water Hydrocyclones where hydrocarbon liquids are removed prior to overboard disposal. Well fluids from the Douglas Wellhead tower are treated in the 3-phase Douglas Production Separator. Gas flows to the Offgas Compressor suction manifold and [[hydrocarbon]] liquids are directed to the Oil Stripper, and water to hydrocyclones as described above. Oil from the Oil Stripper is pumped by the Oil Transfer Pumps via Fiscal metering to the Main Oil Transfer Pumps to tanker loading. Gas from the Oil Stripper is compressed and sent to the Offgas Compressor.<ref name=":0" />

Gas is sent through a [[Pipeline transport|pipeline]] {{convert|33.5|km|adj=on}} long to a [[Point of Ayr Gas Terminal|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&nbsp;km long, to the [[Offshore Storage Installation (Liverpool Bay)|Offshore Storage Installation]], a permanently anchored [[barge]] which acts as a floating oil terminal, capable of holding {{bbl to t|870|mlt=k}} of oil. From the floating terminal oil is transferred to tankers approximately once every month.<ref name=vp/>

==See also==
{{Portal|Energy}}
*[[List of oil fields]]
*[[Geology of the United Kingdom]]
*[[Oil platform]]
*[[Point of Ayr]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.aisliverpool.co.uk/currentmap.php?map=DouglasComplex Douglas Complex on AIS Liverpool]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131005043232/http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/60139/notices/1587576/all%3Dsurrey%3Bsort%3Dnewest Petroleum Act 1998 giving location of Douglas Complex]

[[Category:Oil platforms]]
[[Category:Oil fields of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Irish Sea]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in the United Kingdom]]