By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 8 -- Halley oil field on Block 30/12b in the UK North Sea began production on July 2, said its operator and largest stakeholder, Talisman Energy Inc., Calgary.
Initial production flowed at 15,000 b/d. Talisman plans to increase this to a plateau rate of 20,000 b/d soon. Talisman has 60% interest, and Amerada Hess Ltd. has 40% interest in the field.
Talisman said Halley holds 11 MMboe of oil and gas reserves and has an anticipated field life of 5 years. It was developed with an extended-reach well from the Fulmar platform, which is operated by Royal Dutch/Shell Group. Talisman holds a 12.71% interest in Fulmar field.
Oil and gas is being processed on Fulmar, with oil being exported via the Phillips Petroleum Corp.-operated Norpipe system to Teesside and gas being exported to St. Fergus via the Shell-operated SEGAL pipeline system.
A water injection well to provide pressure support to the Halley reservoir is expected to be spudded from the Fulmar platform in August and isto be on stream by December.
Jim Buckee, Talisman president and CEO, said, "Halley field was discovered 20 years ago, and Talisman has overcome significant challenges in a relatively short timescale to successfully commercialize this previously stranded asset. Production has been achieved within 2 years of Talisman becoming operator."
"Drilling an extended-reach well from a third-party operated platform has required remarkable cooperation between ourselves and Shell and provides a model for future development of similar satellite discoveries," Buckee said.