Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, June 5 -- Petrofac Energy Developments Ltd. has received governmental approval to develop the Don South West and West Don fields in the UK North Sea. Production is expected to begin in first-half 2009.
The fields, production from which would add 50,000 b/d to the nation's supply, will be developed using the Northern Producer floating production vessel. Oil will be delivered via an offshore tanker, and a new export pipeline will be built in 2009. It will connect, via a subsea line, to Lundin Petroleum's Thistle platform and the Brent pipeline system. Terms have now been agreed with Lundin Petroleum for the export service.
The Don fields contain more than 50 million bbl of gross reserves.
Development drilling will start in the third quarter using the John Shaw semisubmersible drilling unit. The fields are in 170 m of water, 150-km northeast of the Shetland Islands.
Petrofac operates both Don Southwest, holding a 60% working interest, and West Don, with a 27.7% working interest. Valiant Petroleum PLC, a partner in the project, holds a 40% interest in Don South West field and a 17.275% interest in the West Don field. Other partners in West Don are First Oil, Stratic Energy, and Nippon Petroleum.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].
