Shell starts gas production from Shamrock in North Sea

Shell UK Ltd. reported production start-up May 12 from Shamrock field in the North Sea, the third new Shell-operated North Sea field to begin production this year.

May 12, 2008

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, May 12 -- Shell UK Ltd. reported production start-up May 12 from Shamrock field in the North Sea, the third new Shell-operated North Sea field to begin production this year. Shell operates the field and holds 100% interest.

Shamrock field was developed using Shell's proprietary Monotower platform powered by wind and solar energy, which costs much less to build than a traditional offshore platform.
John Gallagher, technical vice-president for Shell Exploration & Production, Europe, said Shamrock was brought on stream shortly after Starling and Caravel fields earlier this year. "Our ability to use latest generation technology has enabled Shell to develop a field that would once have been uneconomic," Gallagher said.

Starling, a subsea tieback to the Shearwater platform in the Central North Sea, came on stream in January, and Caravel—also a Monotower platform development—produced initial gas Apr. 30.

Production capacity through the Shamrock monotower will average 120 MMscfd, Shell said. Gas is transported by pipeline to the Shell-operated Bacton gas plant about 120 km to the southwest.

Shell UK operates fields in the UK sector of the North Sea on behalf of itself, Esso, and other partners.