DEVELOPMENT DUE IN TWO MORE FIELDS IN U.K. NORTH SEA

Two gas/condensate fields are moving toward development in the U.K. North Sea. Marathon Oil U.K. Ltd. has sought approval for an 850 million ($1.61 billion) development program in East Brae field, and BP Exploration has won U.K. government approval for the 1.5 billion ($2.85 billion) development of Bruce field. East Brae reserves are 1.4 tcf of gas and 300 million bbl of liquids. Production is to start in December 1993 and peak at 100,000 b/d of condensate in 1995.

Sept. 24, 1990

4 min read

Two gas/condensate fields are moving toward development in the U.K. North Sea.

Marathon Oil U.K. Ltd. has sought approval for an 850 million ($1.61 billion) development program in East Brae field, and BP Exploration has won U.K. government approval for the 1.5 billion ($2.85 billion) development of Bruce field.

East Brae reserves are 1.4 tcf of gas and 300 million bbl of liquids. Production is to start in December 1993 and peak at 100,000 b/d of condensate in 1995.

It is Marathon's fourth field development in the Brae area, about 165 miles northeast of Aberdeen. Platforms have been installed in North Brae and South Brae fields. Central Brae is developed with a subsea system.

EAST BRAE DEVELOPMENT

The East Brae platform will be installed in Block 16/3a, 8.7 miles from the North Brae platform.

Marathon plans a four legged, 9,200 metric ton steel jacket set in 380 ft of water. It will be lift-installed in 1993 as one of the heaviest lifts in the North Sea.

Topsides will consist of an 8,000 ton, integrated module support frame housing the main production equipment and three topside modules: a 4,000 ton compression unit, a 3,000 ton accommodation module, and a 2,500 ton drilling unit.

Topside facilities will be capable of processing 600 MMcfd.

Electrical power for the new platform will be provided by cable from platforms in North Brae and South Brae.

Marathon will drill 13 production wells and four gas injectors in East Brae. Six wells will be drilled through an eight slot subsea template to be installed in mid-1991.

Marathon plans to use gas cycling in the field, reinjecting East Brae gas and gas moved by pipeline from North Brae. Gas sales will not begin until the end of the century.

Gas sales from the three other Brae reservoirs are to start in 1993 through the SAGE pipeline system in which Marathon owns a 50% interest.

East Brae condensate will move through an existing pipeline from the Brae area to the Forties pipeline system.

Partners in East Brae are Marathon 35.84%, BP 25.58%, Bow Valley Petroleum (U.K.) Ltd. 13.28%, Kerr-McGee Oil (U.K.) plc 7.46%, Gas Council (Exploration ) Ltd. 6.494%, LL&E (U.K.) Inc. 5.886%, Sovereign Oil & Gas plc 3.82%, and Norsk Hydro Oil & Gas 1.64%.

BRUCE DEVELOPMENT

BP's Bruce field holds 2.5 tcf of gas reserves and 220 million bbl of liquids. It lies in Blocks 9/8a, 9/9a, and 9/9b about 250 miles northeast of Aberdeen.

Under a contract with British Gas plc, which has brought 90% of the gas reserves, the BP group will start gas deliveries in October 1993. Plateau production of 530 MMcfd of gas and 80,000 b/d of liquids will occur during 1994.

Bruce production will meet about 10% of the U.K.'s gas requirements. The remaining 10% of Bruce reserves is subject to a heads of agreement for sale as fuel for a cogeneration plant station in the Midlands of England.

In the first stage of the project, BP will install a processing, utilities, and accommodation platform bridge-linked to a drilling unit. In the second phase, a minimum facilities platform will be added about 5 years later.

Gas will move through a 3.1 mile, 32 in. line to the Frigg pipeline to Scotland. BP will lay a 150 mile, 24 in. liquids line from Bruce to the Forties pipeline system.

BP holds a 37% interest in Bruce field. Its partners are Elf U.K. Ltd. 31.5%, Hamilton Oil Great Britain 16%, Total Oil Marine 11.75%, and Ultramar Exploration 3.75%. Total boosted its interest in the field by buying Monument Oil & Gas's 0.75% holding at the end of June.