Kingfisher development nod tops action in U.K. North Sea

Shell U.K. Exploration & Production has won U.K. Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) approval to develop Kingfisher oil and gas field on U.K. North Sea Blocks 16/8a and 16/8c. The £ 220 million ($330 million) development will involve the first seabed deployment of a high-integrity pressure protection system (Hipps), so far used only on platforms. In other U.K. North Sea action, Amerada Hess Ltd. has begun oil production from Telford field on Blocks 15/21 and 15/22, and Shell has let two

Nov. 18, 1996

4 min read

Shell U.K. Exploration & Production has won U.K. Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) approval to develop Kingfisher oil and gas field on U.K. North Sea Blocks 16/8a and 16/8c.

The £ 220 million ($330 million) development will involve the first seabed deployment of a high-integrity pressure protection system (Hipps), so far used only on platforms.

In other U.K. North Sea action, Amerada Hess Ltd. has begun oil production from Telford field on Blocks 15/21 and 15/22, and Shell has let two major contracts ahead of its planned Shearwater field development program.

Kingfisher

Shell Expro, operating venture of Shell U.K. Ltd. and Esso Exploration & Production U.K. Ltd., will develop Kingfisher with six subsea wellheads tied back to Brae B platform 9 km away via a production manifold.

Kingfisher has estimated reserves of 56 million bbl of oil and condensate and 368 bcf of gas. Peak production is expected to be 37,000 b/d of liquids and 160 MMcfd of wet gas.

Production is to begin late in 1997 and last 9 years. Liquids will be exported from Brae B, operated by Marathon Oil U.K. Ltd., through the Forties-Brae pipeline network. Gas will be sent via the Scottish Area Gas Evacuation system to St. Fergus.

Shell/Esso said use of Hipps will protect the two 10-in. export pipelines from high pressures expected in some of the Kingfisher wells during the first 2-3 years of production. The field consists of three separate reservoirs.

Kingfisher development contracts have been let to: McDermott Marine Construction Ltd., Aberdeen, for subsea design, procurement and installation; Sonat Offshore U.K. Inc., Aberdeen, for drilling; Kvaerner FSSL Ltd., London, for subsea control systems; ABB Vetco Gray U.K. Ltd., Aberdeen, for trees and wellheads; and United Pipelines Ltd./Buttings of Warrington, U.K., for pipelines.

John Shaw semisubmersible will begin development drilling later this year, continuing until 1999. Shell/Esso said a number of multilateral wells are planned, and water injectors will be drilled, if necessary.

Marathon said Brae B modifications will include installation of a three-phase production separator, metering equipment, and additional chemical injection facilities.

This will be carried out by Brae field contractor AMEC Process & Energy Ltd. under an alliance contract during a planned shutdown in summer 1997 for tie-in works.

Telford

Amerada Hess developed Telford as a subsea satellite of its Scott platform 9 km away.

Telford has four production wells and three water injectors tied back through two manifolds.

Amerada said initial flow rates of 10,000 b/d were achieved through one producer.

Peak production of 30,000 b/d is anticipated by yearend. Telford has estimated reserves of 48 million bbl of oil and 74 bcf of gas.

Shearwater

Meanwhile, Shell has let a £ 300 million ($450 million) contract to a group led by AMEC for design, procurement, construction, installation, and hook-up of the main Shearwater processing platform and topsides for a wellhead platform.

Shell/Esso also let a £ 20 million ($30 million) contract to SLP Engineering Ltd. of Teesside, for design and construction of a 2,000 metric ton wellhead platform jacket.

Shearwater is a high temper a ture/high pressure central North Sea discovery that Shell/Esso hopes to develop under a £ 1 billion ($1.5 billion) program, with first production slated for early 2000.

The company hopes to secure development approval early in 1997 and expects Shearwater to yield 400 MMcfd of gas and 90,000 b/d of condensate.

Elf Exploration U.K. plc is planning to bring nearby Elgin and Franklin high pressure/high temperature finds on stream about the same time, under a £ 2.5 billion ($3.75 billion) development program.

DTI has said Shearwater and Elgin/Franklin developments are being viewed as potential long term providers of feedstock for BP Chemicals Ltd.'s ethylene production operations at Grangemouth, Scotland, and at Teesside.