Neptune Energy and its joint venture partners BP and Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd (JAPEX), today announced drilling had started on the Seagull project in the UK Central North Sea.
The Gorilla VI (JU-248) jack-up rig, operated by Valaris, will drill four wells for the development over the course of 18 months.
During late 2020, Neptune completed the first subsea construction phase for the Seagull project that underpins the company’s growth on the UK Continental Shelf.
“Thanks to a collaborative approach between Neptune, our partners BP and JAPEX and key contractors, we are progressing with the project at pace and have reached another important milestone,” said Neptune Energy’s UK managing director Alexandra Thomas.
“Seagull is expected to produce 50,000 boe per day (gross) and will make a significant contribution to both UK MER and energy security, as well as supporting local supply chains.”
Seagull is a high pressure, high temperature (HPHT) development on licence P1622 Block 22/29C. The field will be developed with up to four subsea wells drilled from a new four-slot manifold 17km south of the BP-operated ETAP central processing facility (CPF). Proved plus probable gross reserves are estimated at 50 million boe.
The development will be tied back to the ETAP CPF, partially utilising existing subsea infrastructure. Gas from the development will come onshore at the CATS processing terminal at Teesside, while oil will come onshore through the Forties Pipeline System to the Kinneil Terminal at Grangemouth.
Neptune is the operator of Seagull and has a 35% equity interest while BP holds 50% and JAPEX has 15%.
The Seagull project connects the oil and gas field with existing nearby facilities and the field is projected to hold 19.0 mmboe net 2P reserves.