bpTT starts up Galeota expansion project

BpTT has announced the safe start-up of its Galeota expansion project.

In a release Friday, bpTT reported the project has been under construction since late 2016 and was started up on September 28, 2020.

"Its completion is a major milestone for bpTT."

The energy company explained that Galeota terminal is core to bpTT’s operations and is essential to TT, as it processes all hydrocarbon liquids produced from bpTT’s 15 offshore facilities as well as from other upstream producers.

BpTT noted the Galeota terminal began operations in 1972 and the project was necessary to maintain the safe, reliable and compliant terminal operations for the next 20 plus years.

"The new facility will restore the terminal’s the capacity to process 20,000 barrels per day (bpd) of condensate. It will also make our operations safer, by separating the entrained gas and produced water more efficiently, thereby reducing condensate volatility. It also provides increased safety for our personnel as a newly-constructed control room will now move operators further away from the plant."

BpTT said the facility has the capacity to efficiently process 50,000 bpd of produced water and enables compliance with TT’s water pollution rules.

The company reported that at its peak during construction, the project employed approximately 900 people, 96 per cent of whom were nationals.

"Over the past four years, the project also brought significant benefit to the local community of Mayaro and its environs through partnerships with local suppliers for the provision of various services and contract labour."

BpTT further reported that the project also invested TT $3.5 million into the Mayaro community, mainly supporting education programmes. These provided grants to students wishing to pursue Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination and scholarships to those wishing to pursue tertiary level education.

“This is a proud moment for bpTT – the culmination of years of work and effective partnerships between our teams, our contractors and the many people from our community who worked together to safely deliver the project. Although this project does not directly increase production, it is an important investment in safe, reliable and environmentally compliant facilities that will support our continued operations over the coming decades," said bpTT president Claire Fitzpatrick.