By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Nov. 29 -- ChevronTexaco Corp. has received government approval to develop two North Sea projects with a combined budget of more than $240 million.
Alba Extreme South and Caledonia fields are in the Central North Sea 130 miles northeast of Aberdeen.
Alba Extreme South will be developed as a satellite to Alba field on Block 16/26 in the UK Central North Sea. Six production and two injection wells, plus subsea facilities, will be tied back to the Alba Northern platform via a 5-km pipeline bundle of two 10-in. production lines, one 8-in. test line, and one 4-in. utilities line.
Alba operator Chevron UK Ltd. will begin production from the $197 million Alba Extreme South project next October. TexacoChevron said the project should maintain Alba's production of 80,000 b/d. If reservoir performance confirms other potential, the companies plan to review further development options.
Chevron UK owns 21.17% of Alba, Statoil UK Ltd. 17%, ARCO British Ltd. 15.5%, Fina Petroleum Development Ltd. 12.65%, Conoco UK Theta Ltd. 11.75%, Conoco UK Ltd. 9.33%, Baytrust Oil Explorations Ltd. 1.20%, Conoco Petroleum Ltd. 2.35%, and Enterprise Oil UK Ltd. 2.25%.
Caledonia field's first phase of development involves a single well to be tied back to Britannia platform, also on Block 16/26, via a small seabed manifold and a 3.5 mile, 8-in. pipeline. First oil is expected at the end of the third quarter 2002. Peak production should be 13,000 b/d.
UK Energy Minister Brian Wilson said, "The Alba-Britannia hub will play an increasingly important role in the future development of additional satellite fields in its vicinity."
Semisubmersible drilling rig Stena Spey will drill and complete the wells in both fields, with an expected contract length of 14 months.
Operator Chevron UK owns 27.36% of Caledonia, Statoil UK Ltd. 21.32%, Conoco UK Theta Ltd. 14.78%, Conoco UK Ltd. 8.65%, Unilon Oil Explorations Ltd. 8.55%, Enterprise Oil UK Ltd. 2.83%, Conoco Petroleum Ltd. 2.35%, and Baytrust Oil Explorations Ltd. 1.51%.