U.K. gas fields come on stream

Two gas fields have been brought into production off the U.K., and a further eight oil and gas fields are due on stream by yearend. BP Exploration Operating Co. Ltd. began production from its Bruce Phase II development, a subsea tie-back linked to a new compression/reception platform built alongside Bruce platform 6 km away. The new facilities are designed to produce up to 450 MMcfd of gas, and BP reckons the satellite development will give access to an additional 728 bcf of gas and 61 million

Oct. 19, 1998

2 min read

Two gas fields have been brought into production off the U.K., and a further eight oil and gas fields are due on stream by yearend.

BP Exploration Operating Co. Ltd. began production from its Bruce Phase II development, a subsea tie-back linked to a new compression/reception platform built alongside Bruce platform 6 km away.

The new facilities are designed to produce up to 450 MMcfd of gas, and BP reckons the satellite development will give access to an additional 728 bcf of gas and 61 million bbl of hydrocarbon liquids.

Bruce field partners are operator BP 37%, Elf Exploration U.K. plc 31.5%, BHP Petroleum Great Britain plc 16%, Total Oil Marine plc 11.75%, and Deminex U.K. Oil & Gas Ltd. 3.75%.

Mobil North Sea Ltd. began gas production in Malory field, which lies in 60 ft of water on Block 48/12d.

Malory has estimated reserves of 75 bcf of gas. The platform has capacity to handle 100 MMcfd of gas, but initial output is 60 MMcfd of gas from a single well.

Malory field interest holders are operator Mobil 76% and EDC (Europe) Ltd., a subsidiary of Samedan Oil Corp., Ardmore, Okla., 24%.

More expected

Wood Mackenzie Consultants Ltd., Edinburgh, said U.K. operators have brought 12 offshore fields into production this year, including five as part of BP's seven-field Eastern Trough Area Project (ETAP) development.

The analyst expects four more fields to come on stream this month: BP's Marnock, part of ETAP, with estimated reserves of 60 million bbl of oil and 580 bcf of gas; Janice field by Kerr-McGee Oil (U.K.) plc, with 70 million bbl of oil; Mobil's Nevis North, with 5 million bbl of oil and 4 bcf of gas; and Teal South by Shell U.K. Exploration & Production, with 8 million bbl of oil and 5 bcf of gas.

In November, Enterprise Oil plc is expected to start up Pierce field. And in December, Phillips Petroleum Co. U.K. Ltd. is due to start up its joint Renee and Rubie fields development, and Conoco (U.K.) Ltd. is expected to begin production in Banff field.

The 65 million bbl Ross oil field, under development by Talisman Energy (U.K.) Ltd., is now anticipated to begin production in January 1999, not this year as originally planned.