Offshore staff

CALGARY, Canada -- Iona Energy has farmed into 20% of the Trent and Tyne gas fields in the southern UK North Sea. Both are operated by Perenco, and are located, respectively, in blocks 43/24 (license P609) and 44/18a (license P685).

Additionally, Iona has taken a stake in ETS pipeline system that transports gas from four fields, including Trent and Tyne, to the Bacton terminal on the English east coast.

Average production rates from Trent and Tyne are below par due to operational problems with a backup gas export compressor on the normally unmanned Trent platform. This has been refurbished following removal to an onshore site, and is currently being re-installed in the field.

Iona expects offtake levels and overall production to pick up this summer as a result of improved maintenance efficiency and operating uptime.

At Tyne, a sidetrack of the existing T5 well is planned into the reservoir’s proven producing layers of the reservoir, as is a workover of the existing T1Z well. Both should help ramp up gas output next year.

Elsewhere in the sector, Iona is partner to operator MPX North Sea and Sorgenia E&P UK in the upcoming appraisal well on the undeveloped Orlando discovery.

The semisub Awilco Wilhunter should start drilling appraisal well 3/3-12 and a pilot hole for the planned Orlando oil development, which could be tied back to CNR’s Ninian platform.

07/01/2011