The Erskine field process module (left photo above) is to be installed on Lomond platform, operated by Amoco (U.K.) Ltd. This contains separation, gas dehydration, compression, fiscal metering, crude pumping, and water treatment facilities for Texaco's Erskine development. Photo at right is the topsides for Erskine platform, which is currently being completed at McNulty's Tyneside, U.K., yard. The two-level platform will have capacity to produce 118 MMcfd of gas and 26,000 b/d of liquids. Output will be sent by multiphase pipeline to Lomond for processing. (Photos courtesy of Texaco Ltd.)
Phillips Petroleum Co. U.K. Ltd. has disclosed it will add its Jade discovery to the list of forthcoming U.K. Central North Sea high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) developments.
Meanwhile, BG Exploration & Production Ltd. has reported an HP/HT find, and Texaco Ltd. is completing the North Sea's first HP/HT development in Erskine field (OGJ, Mar. 10, 1997, p. 27).
In addition, Shell U.K. Exploration & Production is awaiting U.K. Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) approval to develop Shearwater HP/HT discovery, while Elf Exploration U.K. plc awaits approval to develop Elgin and Franklin.
Jade
Phillips discovered Jade on Block 30/2c, 12 miles north of Judy field, which it is currently developing with a platform, in March 1996.
The well was suspended without testing due to rig time restraints.
Anticipating a potential field development, Phillips installed a nine-slot spacer frame in Jade in November 1996, then drilled 30/2c-4 appraisal well through the frame to a total measured depth of 18,867 ft.
The well cut a hydrocarbon column more than 1,300 ft, with no water contact, confirming and extending results of the discovery well.
The 30/2c-4 well was tested from two intervals. The lower interval flowed at a stabilized rate of 33 MMcfd of gas and 6,000 b/d of condensate through a 48/64-in. choke. The upper interval flowed at a stabilized rate of 58 MMcfd of gas and 3,700 b/d of condensate through a 48/64-in. choke.
Both discovery and appraisal wells were HP/HT wells and have been suspended for re-entry and completion during development.
A Phillips official said Jade lies in 260 ft of water, and the company is "looking at everything," including subsea tiebacks and minimum facilities platforms, in terms of development options for the find.
The company expects to discuss development plans with DTI later this year, and said Jade could be brought into production as early as fourth quarter 1998.
Development of Judy on an adjoining block was held up by a refusal of Enron Europe Ltd. to take delivery of gas from the field. Phillips has installed a gas reinjection plant on Judy platform and hopes to begin oil production soon (OGJ, Apr. 15, 1996, p. 31).
A U.K. court ruled against Phillips in the dispute over the Judy gas contract, but the Phillips official said the U.K. House of Lords has granted an appeal. Jade license interests are operator Phillips 32.5%, BG Exploration & Production 35%, Texaco 15.4%, Statoil (U.K.) Ltd. 10%, and OMV (U.K.) Ltd. 7.1%.
BG find
BG disclosed an HP/HT oil discovery on U.K. Block 15/23d, well north-northwest of the main group of HP/HT finds: Elgin, Franklin, Erskine, Shearwater, and now Jade.
The 15/23-d discovery well was spudded on Nov. 15, 1996, and completed testing on Feb. 16, 1997. The well will be suspended for potential re-entry and use in development.
The well cut a gross oil column of 266 ft in upper Jurassic sandstone. It flowed more than 7,500 b/d of 43.8° gravity oil and 9 MMcfd of associated gas through a 32/64-in. choke.
Frank Chapman, managing director of BG E&P, said, "We have already begun conceptual studies so as to reduce time to first production. Discussions have started with adjacent field operators to evaluate the possibility of a fast track development, which BG E&P will discuss with DTI in due course."
Block 15/23d license interest holders are operator BG 60% and Agip (U.K.) Ltd. 40%. BG E&P is the upstream unit of BG plc, one of two companies created from the now defunct British Gas plc.
Erskine
Texaco's Erskine field is due on stream in October. An unmanned platform will send multiphase output to a process module 30 km away on Lomond platform.
From Lomond, oil will be routed via nearby Everest riser platform to join the Forties network to shore. Gas will be sent via Everest riser platform to join the Central Area Transmission System (CATS) pipeline flow to Teesside.
Erskine lies in 295 ft of water on Blocks 23/26a and 23/26b and has estimated reserves of 330 bcf of gas and 75 million bbl of 41° gravity oil. The reservoir is at a depth of 15,500 ft in Jurassic sandstone.
Texaco installed the Erskine jacket on Block 23/26b in April 1996. This April, the company will load out the topsides and process module from the McNulty Offshore Services Ltd. yard, South Shields, U.K.
The module will be installed first by Stanislav Yudin crane ship, followed by installation of topsides. Timing of topsides installation depends on a pause in development drilling in Erskine.
Santa Fe Monitor heavy-duty jack up rig is currently drilling the fourth of six development wells in Erskine. Three have been drilled ready for first production.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth wells will be halted above the reservoir and re-entered and completed by the rig, operating in cantilever mode, once production has begun.
Erskine development is expected to cost £300 million ($480 million). Initial production is expected to be 95 MMcfd of gas and 21,000 b/d of liquids.
Gas will be sold to generator Scottish Hydro-Electric plc, Perth, Scotland, and to the gas marketing units of Texaco and Erskine equal partner BP Exploration Operating Co. Ltd.
Shearwater
Shell and Elf are both anticipating DTI approval for central North Sea HP/HT developments in the next couple of months.
Both plan to start production in 2000 with exports via a new shared pipeline to U.K. Bacton terminal.
Shell's Shearwater discovery lies on Block 22/30b and has estimated reserves of 1 tcf of gas and 200 million bbl of oil.
A £1 billion ($1.6 billion) development will involve installation of a processing platform and a wellhead platform. The operator let construction contracts last year (OGJ, Nov. 18, 1996, p. 28).
Elgin/Franklin
Elf plans to develop Elgin and Franklin, which lie on Blocks 22/30c and 29/5b respectively, with a processing, utilities, and quarters (PUQ) platform in Elgin and a smaller platform in Franklin.
Elgin/Franklin estimated reserves are 1.25 tcf of gas and 200 million bbl of condensate.
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