NINIAN RESERVES FIGURE HIKED

Chevron U.K. Ltd. has boosted its estimate of reserves in Ninian field, the third largest oil reservoir in the U.K. North Sea. The company added 55-155 million bbl to its previous reserves figure of 1.045 billion bbl. The range depends on future operating and economic conditions. Ultimate recovery will now amount to 1.1-1.2 billion bbl, Chevron reckons. The increased estimate results from a geological and engineering study of the field, which disclosed a 9% increase in estimated oil in place

Jan. 22, 1990

2 min read

Chevron U.K. Ltd. has boosted its estimate of reserves in Ninian field, the third largest oil reservoir in the U.K. North Sea.

The company added 55-155 million bbl to its previous reserves figure of 1.045 billion bbl. The range depends on future operating and economic conditions.

Ultimate recovery will now amount to 1.1-1.2 billion bbl, Chevron reckons.

The increased estimate results from a geological and engineering study of the field, which disclosed a 9% increase in estimated oil in place to 2.92 billion bbl from the previous 2.68 billion bbl.

The study was designed to recalculate the estimate of original oil in place and forecast production under a range of foreseeable operating conditions. The performance of 71 production wells and 33 water injection wells was analyzed, along with projected performance of potential new wells.

Ninian, an April 1974 discovery 100 miles east of the Shetland Islands, has produced more than 850 million bbl since it went on stream in December 1978.

Current flow amounts to 140,000 b/d from wells in Blocks 3/3 and 3/8.

Ninian partners are Chevron 17.1%, Enterprise Petroleum Ltd. 18.5%, Lasmo North Sea plc 17.3%, Murphy Petroleum Ltd. and Ocean Exploration Co. Ltd. 7.1% each, Oryx U.K. Energy Co. 21.4%, and Ranger Oil (U.K.) Ltd. 11.5%.