Offshore staff
ABERDEEN-- Petrofac has transferred production from the West Don and Don Southwest (Don SW) fields in the UK northern North Sea to Lundin's Thistle platform. It has also started up the Don Southwest production well DR2z, following recent drilling of a sidetrack.
Between April 2009 and mid-February 2010, oil from the two fields had been delivered via shuttle tankers loading from a single anchor leg (SAL) mooring system. Export has now been switched, in line with the original development plan, through a newly installed pipeline export route via Lundin’s Thistle platform. The new system should not be prone to the same weather-related interruptions, leading to improved production stability and export operations.
Lundin began modifications to the Thistle platform in late 2008, which included installation of a new flexible riser hang-off structure. Final tie-ins and pipeline commissioning operations were completed by end-February.
The second of the Don Southwest producer wells (P-02-DR2z) came on stream after the permanent export route became available. Demobilization of the drilling rig John Shaw provided access for a dive support vessel to complete water injection tie-ins at Don SW early last week.
Injection to the Don SW field is also under way, Petrofac adds. Performance of production and injection is under scrutiny, but well performance at this point looks positive. A stage two drilling program at Don SW should start this spring when the rig returns from a shoreside upgrade.
3/8/2010
