British Gas claims record-length well

British Gas plc claims to have drilled the world's longest well from a semisubmersible rig, with the eighth development well of its Armada project on U.K. North Sea Blocks 16/29 and 22/5.

Here the company is developing Drake, Fleming, and Hawkins fields, which have estimated combined reserves of 34 billion cu m of gas. First production is slated for October 1997.

In other U.K. North Sea action, Shell U.K. Exploration & Production on Oct. 5 began oil production from Teal, South Teal, and Guillemot A fields (OGJ, Oct. 14, p. 38). Shell said first oil was achieved about 8 weeks ahead of schedule and is expected to build to a peak of 60,000 b/d by yearend.

Also, Marathon Oil U.K. Ltd. has let a £ 30 million contract to McDermott Marine Construction Ltd., London, for design, fabrication and installation of subsea equipment required to develop West Brae oil field (OGJ, Oct. 14, p. 36).

Record well

The well reached a total measured depth of 23,905 ft, with an incline angle of 74 from vertical, a horizontal reach of more than 20,000 ft, and a vertical depth of 9,148 ft.

The well was drilled with Santa Fe 135 rig operating in 295 ft of water. This is the last of the field's development wells, which will be suspended for production.

Colin Friedlander, technical director of British Gas Exploration & Production, said, "In order to extend the reach of the well, enhancements were required to the well design, drilling rig, and drilling equipment.

"The result is more than 1,500 ft longer than the previous record, set by the Ocean Rover in the Gulf of Mexico in 1985, at 22,222 ft."

The three fields will be depleted by Armada platform, which will be installed on Block 22/5 in first quarter 1997. Besides the eight pre-drilled wells, the platform will have capacity to take another 13 development wells.

British Gas said the £ 500 million ($750 million) development will be capable of producing as much as 450 MMcfd of gas and 26,000 b/d of light oil. Gas will be exported via CATS pipeline to Teesside, while liquids will join the Forties pipeline to shore.

West Brae

McDermott has begun engineering work and expects to use its MSV Norlift and MV Northern Explorer construction vessels to carry out installation work from July to October 1997.

West Brae is being developed on Block 16/7a as a subsea satellite of Brae A platform 8.7 km away. Production is to start late in 1997 and reach 25,000 b/d in 1998. The development will comprise three horizontal production wells and one water injector, tied back via a manifold with capacity to handle three further wells and tie-in of other nearby small fields.