By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 24 -- The UK Department of Trade & Industry agreed to the development plan for Cavendish natural gas field in the UK North Sea's Southern Gas basin.
RWE Dea UK Development Ltd. operates the field and holds a 50% interest. Its partners are GDF Britain Ltd. and Dana Petroleum (E&P) Ltd., 25% each. First production is expected in fourth quarter 2006.
Cavendish field is on Block 43/19a in 18.5 m of water, 140 km northeast of Easington on the Lincolnshire coast and 180 km north of Bacton on the Norfolk coast.
Development will involve three production wells and a minimum facilities platform (MFP) tied back to ConocoPhillips (UK) Ltd.'s Caister Murdoch System (CMS). Gas production will be transported via the CMS pipeline to the Theddlethorpe Terminal and is estimated to continue until the end of 2016.
Total capital expenditure on the project will be around £124 million, with operating costs expected to be £2.8 million/year. Major contracts will be awarded to Heerema Vlissingen BV, for the MFP; Micoperi, platform and pipeline installation; and Noble Asset (UK) Ltd., drilling.
