Talisman looks to offset Norwegian fields decline

Offshore staff

CALGARY, Canada -- Talisman Energy’s UK North Sea production averaged 92,000 boe/d in Q1 2011, up 9% on the previous three months.

Much of the increase came from the Auk North field, which entered production last November.

Talisman invested $110 million on UK field development in Q1, including facility upgrades at Claymore and redevelopment of Auk South. It also drilled production wells at Auk North and Claymore.

Offshore Norway, the company’s production averaged 44,000 boe/d in the first quarter of this year, a 19% decrease from the previous quarter. This was due largely to natural decline at the Varg, Brage and Rev fields.

The company spent $135 million on its Norwegian developments during Q1. Recently, infill wells were drilling at both Varg and Brage, and Talisman may drill a sidetrack well to offset the tail-off at Rev. At Gyda, two wells were re-completed with electrical submersible pumps, and the first of two new infill wells planned this year is currently drilling.

Redevelopment of the Yme field redevelopment continues, although the platform’s topsides are still not in place. They have been in Stavanger since late last year waiting for a suitable weather window to allow installation.

In the meantime, Talisman is completing some required re-work onshore, in order to reduce the duration of the offshore hook-up and commissioning phase. Yme was due to deliver first oil in July, but some time towards year-end now looks more realistic.

As for exploration, the company drilled the TR-1 appraisal well in block 30/13 and suspended it following testing of the Upper Jurassic and Triassic intervals. Oil flowed on test, but not at economic rates. However, a shallower Paleocene pay zone is under evaluation for a future test.

05/04/2011