Offshore staff

CALGARY, Canada – Nexen says its UK central North Sea Blackbird production came onstream seven weeks ahead of schedule in November as a tieback to the Ettrick field FPSO.

Production from Blackbird during the fourth quarter was roughly 5,000 boe/d.

Earlier this month, Nexen completed the Telford TAC tieback to the Scott platform in the same sector. Another planned tieback, Rochelle, should come onstream around the end of this year.

The company adds that fabrication has started on facilities for its newly launched Golden Eagle development, using many of the team managed construction of its Buzzard platforms.

Work is proceeding on time and on-budget, and Nexen expects first production from Golden Eagle in late 2014. The complex will have throughput capacity of 70,000 boe/d.

In late March, Nexen expects to spud an exploration well on the North Uist prospect west of the Shetland Islands.

2/16/2012