By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 14 -- BP PLC and Maersk Oil North Sea UK Ltd. let a contract in the initial phase of a plan to develop gas reserves in the UK North Sea Harding area and prolong the life of Harding field beyond 2015.
Harding field produces 30,000 b/d of oil and includes undeveloped gas. The field is 200 miles northeast of Aberdeen on Block 9/23b in 360 ft of water.
Development plans include a gas processing platform bridge-linked to the existing Harding platform to process and export gas at rates up to 400 MMscfd. The proposed development would involve a subsea tie-back of Devenick field and a pipeline to the Brae gas transmission pipeline.
A final project approval decision is expected by yearend. The partners approved a $15 million front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract. The FEED contractors are AMEC, JP Kenny, and Production Services Network.
Harding field partners are operator BP with 70% interest and Maersk Oil with 30% interest.
