By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Sept. 1 -- A group led by ConocoPhillips hopes for development approval next year of a large gas-condensate discovery in the Central UK North Sea.
BG Group, which holds a 30.5% interest in the prospect formerly known as Shoei, estimates the discovery's reserves at 100-275 million bbl of condensate. Mark Cane, BG executive vice-president, Europe and Central Asia, called it "one of the largest recent North Sea discoveries."
The Ensco 102 jack up spudded the initial exploratory well in March and a sidetrack that confirmed the discovery in July.
The field, which will be renamed, lies on Blocks P011 and P0032 30/7a. It's in 81 m of water 9 km west of Judy oil and gas field, which has been on production since 1997.
A BG Group spokeswoman said development might involve a tieback to the Judy platform, with production starting in 2010.
Production from J-Block fields, which include Judy, Joanne, and the Jade tie-back development, moves to Teesside, UK, through the Central Area Transmission System.
ConocoPhillips holds 36.5% interest in the discovery. The other partner is Eni UK Ltd. with 33%.
The same companies hold varying interests in the J-Block fields.
