Parkmead, Nexen examine subsea options for Perth, Dolphin in the North Sea

Offshore staff

ABERDEEN, UK – Parkmead has increased its equity in licenses covering the Perth and Dolphin oil fields in the UK central North Sea.

The company is now investigating a subsea tieback to the Nexen-operated Scott field facilities, 10 km (6.2 mi) to the southeast under theGreater Perth Area oil hub project.

In addition, Parkmead has contracted AGR Tracs International to perform a reservoir study in relation to possible well stimulation measures, which could increase flow rates and oil recovery from the two fields.

The company points out that the Perth reservoir has a gross oil column of around 2,000 ft (610 m), which should make it suitable for fracture stimulation.

At the same time, the company is in talks with various international service providers concerning the project scope.

Perth and Dolphin fields are across blocks 15/21a, b, c, and f and 14/25a in the Moray Firth area off northeast Scotland, in licenses P.218, P.588, and P.2154.

Both are said to be substantial Upper Jurassic Claymore sandstone accumulations that have tested 32-38° API oil at production rates of up to 6,000 b/d per well.

At Perth, the Claymore sandstone forms a combined structural-stratigraphic trap, onlapping the Tartan Ridge to the North, with a southward-thickening and dipping sandstone wedge.

The sandstones were deposited as deepwater turbidites sourced from the Halibut Horst, with a minor contribution from the Tartan Ridge.

Parkmead believes a tieback to Scott would lower the capex needed to bring the project onstream and subsequent operating costs.

The study with Nexen will focus on detailed engineering of the tieback needs, including topsides modifications and processing at the Scott platform, as well as caisson design work. Subsea 7 and Amec Foster Wheeler subsidiary Ingen will assist with the study.

02/07/2018