Serica Energy PLC has spudded the Columbus 23/16f-CDev1 development well in the UK Central North Sea, 35 km northeast of Shearwater production infrastructure.
The well is being drilled with the Maersk Resilient heavy duty jack up rig to a total depth of 17,600 ft and will include a 5,600 ft horizontal section. Drilling is expected to take around 70 days. An open-hole sand-screen completion will be installed after drilling, and a short clean-up flow and well test will be performed to provide production data and prepare for flowing into the export system. The well will then be suspended.
The Columbus development area will be drained by this single producing well. Later in the year, the well will be connected to the Arran pipeline, through which Columbus and Arran field production will be exported. When the production reaches the Shearwater platform, gas and liquids will be separated, and gas exported via the SEGAL line to St Fergus. Liquids will be exported through the Forties Pipeline System to Cruden Bay.
Production is expected to begin in early fourth-quarter 2021, with expected average gross production of 7,000 boe/d (70% gas). Columbus gross undeveloped 2P reserves is estimated at more than 14 MMboe.
Serica is operator (50%) with partners Waldorf Production UK Ltd. (25%) and Tailwind Mistral Ltd. (25%).