JACKET READY FOR GAS FIELD IN NORTH SEA

A group led by Ultramar Exploration (Netherlands) BY is making progress on a development project for Markham gas field straddling the Dutch-U.K. line in the North Sea. A jacket for a central processing platform, the first of two Markham platforms, is ready for tow-out to the field at the end of the this month after its upper and lower sections were joined by Grootint BV at its Netherlands yard. Grootint holds a contract to design, build, and precommission the jacket, spacer-frame, and topsides.

Sept. 23, 1991

2 min read

A group led by Ultramar Exploration (Netherlands) BY is making progress on a development project for Markham gas field straddling the Dutch-U.K. line in the North Sea.

A jacket for a central processing platform, the first of two Markham platforms, is ready for tow-out to the field at the end of the this month after its upper and lower sections were joined by Grootint BV at its Netherlands yard.

Grootint holds a contract to design, build, and precommission the jacket, spacer-frame, and topsides.

The structure is to be transferred to the Micoperi 7000 heavy lift vessel. Subject to approval by the Dutch and British governments, it will be installed in the first week of October.

Development of Markham, which holds about 700 bcf of reserves, will require a treaty between the British and Dutch governments. The two sides are on schedule to sign the agreement this fall.

Markham lies in Dutch Blocks J6 and J3b and British Blocks 49/5a and 49/10b.

The jacket will act as a drilling template for two further development wells on J6. The topsides will be installed next summer, with production to begin in fourth quarter 1992.

Markham gas will be sold to continental European buyers, the first time gas from the U.K. North Sea sector has been exported. Gas and gas liquids will move through a new 24 in. pipeline to the existing pipeline system through the K13a platform.

The second Markham platform will be installed on U.K. Block 49/5a in 1995.

It will be a minimum facilities unit that will not normally be manned.

Ultramar's Dutch partners in the project are Elf Petroland BV, Holland Sea Search II BV, Ranger Oil (U.K.) Ltd., and Total Marine Exploitatie Mij.

Licensees off the U.K. are Ultramar Exploration Ltd., DNO Offshore Ltd., Ranger Oil (U.K.) Ltd., Total Oil Marine plc, Texaco Britain Ltd., Monument Exploration & Production Ltd., Euroil Exploration Ltd., and Pentex Oil Ltd.