CMS III partners begin Watt gas field production

Dec. 3, 2003
ConocoPhillips (UK) Ltd. commenced first production Nov. 28 from a single well in Watt gas field in the UK southern North Sea. Production steadily increased over 24 hrs to reach a stabilized flow rate of 148 MMscfd, reported partner Tullow Oil UK Ltd.

By OGJ editors

H OUSTON, Dec. 2 -- ConocoPhillips (UK) Ltd. commenced first production Nov. 28 from a single well in Watt gas field in the UK southern North Sea. Production steadily increased over 24 hrs to reach a stabilized flow rate of 148 MMscfd, reported partner Tullow Oil UK Ltd.

Watt is the fourth field brought on production as part of the five-field development collectively known as CMS III that uses the production and transportation facilities of the Caister Murdoch System (CMS) 115 miles northeast of the Lincolnshire coast (OGJ Online, Dec. 9, 2002).

Partners in the CMS III development are ConocoPhillips (operator) 59.5%, GDF Britain Ltd. 26.4%, and Tullow Oil 14.1%

Production from the first fields, Murdoch K, Hawksley, and McAdam, which produce from different Carboniferous reservoirs, has exceeded expectations since first gas was produced from CMS III in September 2002. The current combined production potential from the four fields is 360 MMscfd, considerably above the predicted rate of 300 MMscfd.

The final well in the CMS III program, Boulton H1 has now been reentered after its temporary suspension, with anticipated production commencing in first quarter 2004.

Complementing the startup of the Watt field, the current commissioning of the recently installed compressor unit on the Murdoch platform will double CMS compression capacity, facilitating increased flow rates and providing additional export capacity via the CMS facilities for future gas developments in the area