Production has begun at Catcher oil field off the UK at an initial rate of 10,000 b/d, expected to climb to 60,000 b/d in first-half 2018 as nearby Varadero and Burgman fields are brought online (OGJ Online Nov. 17, 2017).
Operator Premier Oil PLC estimates gross proved and probable reserves at 96 million boe of 25°-31° gravity oil.
It’s developing the fields with 19 production and water-injection wells tied back to the BW Catcher floating production, storage, and offloading vessel owned by BW Offshore.
The fields are in 90 m of water on Block 28/9a about 174 km off Aberdeen.
Premier holds a 50% interest. Partners are Cairn Energy and MOL, 20% each, and Dyas, 10%.