Offshore staff
EDINBURGH, UK – Cairn Energy will participate in exploration drilling this year in the North Sea and offshore Mexico.
Shell will drill the Jaws prospect in the UK sector (Cairn 50%), while Eni plans a well on Mexican block 10, and potentially an appraisal of the Saasken discovery (Cairn 15%).
During 2020, Cairn’s net production from its North Sea interests was just over 21,000 b/d, with a strong performance from the EnQuest-operated Kraken oil field in the East Shetland basin.
At the Premier-operated Catcher in the UK central North Sea, fourth quarter output was lower due to the produced water plant being offline. Gas injection trials are currently in progress.
As both fields are set to enter their natural decline phase, the focus will be on potentially extending field life through FPSO performance efficiency measures, process optimization, and maturing new drilling opportunities.
For Catcher the partners plan a new 4D seismic program this year to sharpen definition of reservoir targets and potentially unswept oil, ahead of possible infill and satellite drilling, incorporating some activities deferred from 2020.
Kraken offers further potential on the field’s western flank.
01/20/2021
