Production has started from the southern North Sea Orca gas field, operator GDF SUEZ has announced.
The field straddles the UK and Dutch sectors of the North Sea, making it the second such cross-border gas development between these two countries (the other being Markham).
Initial gas has been produced from the first of the three wells to be drilled from the D18a-A production platform, in Dutch waters, 500m from the UK sector, and in about 45metres water depth.
Image: The D18a-A platform, courtesy GDF SUEZ.
The second well is expected to come on-stream later this month. Drilling is underway on the third well, from which production is expected in February 2014.
At plateau in 2014, the platform will produce approximately 1.5MM cu ft gas per day.
Produced gas is being transported by pipeline to the existing D15a-A production platform on the Dutch Continental Shelf for further processing.
It will then be transported through the Noordgastransport pipeline system to Uithuizen in the Netherlands. After final treatment, the gas will be delivered to Gas Transport Services B.V. which manages the national gas transport network in the Netherlands.
The Orca gas field lies in blocks 44/24a, 44/29b and 44/30a of the UK Southern North Sea (SNS) and extends into blocks D18a and D15b of the Dutch Continental Shelf. GDF SUEZ E&P Nederland B.V. is the operator and duty holder and GDF SUEZ E&P UK Ltd is operator of the UK licences.
GDF SUEZ E&P Nederland B.V is operator and duty holder, hodling 22.5% WI, with partners E.ON E&P UK Ltd (23.5%), EBN BV (22.5%), RWE Dea UK (19.7%), GDF SUEZ E&P UK Ltd (UK license operator) (8.6%), and Faroe Petroleum (UK) Ltd (3.2%).
Subscribe
