Horizontal well lifts UK North Sea Bacchus to 17,600 b/d

Aug. 1, 2013
The Bacchus B-1 horizontal development well, third well in Bacchus field in the UK North Sea, has pushed field production past 17,600 b/d of oil, more than double the year-ago rate (OGJ Online, Aug. 2, 2012), said operator Apache Corp.

The Bacchus B-1 horizontal development well, third well in Bacchus field in the UK North Sea, has pushed field production past 17,600 b/d of oil, more than double the year-ago rate (OGJ Online, Aug. 2, 2012), said operator Apache Corp.

Bacchus B-1 went on production in July and is making 9,400 b/d. Apache logged 2,057 ft of net oil pay along a horizontal completion segment in high-quality Jurassic-aged Fulmar sandstones in the fields western fault-block. Oil from the Bacchus is produced through a subsea tieback to Apaches Forties Alpha platform.

Following the recent success at Bacchus, Apache has extended its current Forties 3D seismic survey area to cover other Jurassic development and exploration targets on Apache licenses in the Bacchus area. The seismic survey is expected to be completed in September.

Apache has brought three new fields, Bacchus, Maule, and Tonto, on production in the Forties area since 2009. All three developments qualified under the UK government small field allowance system, which provides economic incentives for operators to bring these discovery into production.

James L. House, region vice-president and managing director of Apache North Sea, said, Utilizing existing infrastructure within the Forties field area enables Apache to bring these smaller discovery on production in a cost-effective manner for the benefit of all stakeholders. A little more than a year after first production, Bacchus has produced 3 million bbl of oil and has already paid out.

Apache is operator of Bacchus with a 50% interest. Partners are Endeavor Energy UK Ltd. 30% and First Oil Expro Ltd. 20%.