Aberdeen-based independent explorer Xcite Energy Resources (XER) has agreed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to use a self-installing platform design on its North Sea Bentley field.
The MOU, with engineering firms AMEC and Ove Arup & Partners, sets out the principles of co-operation for the design and development of Arup's self-installing, steel ACE platform for the Bentley field.
The move comes just days after the firm announced an MOU with Teekay Shipping for the use of a floating storage and offloading (FSO) facility, to be used for oil storage and offloading on Bentley.
Image: The Maari DrillACE platform, deployed offshore New Zealand. Photo from Arup.
“XER, AMEC and Arup intend to work together to optimize the existing ACE platform design for the Bentley field, covering all aspects of assurance, engineering, procurement, construction, and installation,” said Xcite.
The MOU with AMEC and Arup will mean XER, prior to contract award, will be able to confirm the final platform design and capital requirement for one of the key Bentley field development assets.
Using the self-elevating design will allow the firm to build and integrate the platform at a wide range of construction yards, said Xcite, allowing a direct wet tow to be undertaken to the Bentley field and installation with minimal offshore support. Decommissioning costs should also be reduced, says Xcite.
Rupert Cole, CEO of Xcite Energy, commented: "We are pleased to be able to announce AMEC and Arup as partners in our development group to progress Bentley towards production. This next phase of engineering will allow us to optimize Arup's existing ACE platform design for the Bentley field and enable us to refine the costs and related schedule ahead of submitting the field development Plan."
The earlier MOU with Teekay sets out the principles of co-operation for the supply of a Sevan Marine-design cylindrical FSO, which would be bridge linked to the Bentley production facility, for the life of the Bentley field.
The Bentley field covers about 70sq km, in Block 9/3b, license P1078, 8km southeast of the Bressay field (operator: Statoil), 15km east of the Kraken field (operator: EnQuest) and 20 km north-northeast of the Bruce field (operator: BP).
It is about 160km east of the Shetland Islands on the western edge of the Viking Graben. Oil reserves are about 257MM 2P, 10°-12° API, according to Xcite.
The license was granted to Xcite under a Promote license in 2003 and converted to a traditional license in 2005.
The field, discovered in 1977, is a four-way dip closed structure of Lower Eocene and Upper Palaeocene Dornoch sandstone reservoir. It has been delineated by nine well penetrations and recent 3D seismic from a 2011 program.
A phased development plan has been outlined to include two 20 slot platforms, with 4-5 laterals per well, with a floating storage and offloading vessel, and further subsea wells.
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