Offshore staff

 HAMBURG, Germany --The jackup Ensco 70 has started development drilling at the RWE Dea-operated Breagh gas field in the UK southern North Sea. First gas is expected in the second half of this year.

 Previously drilled wells 42/13-3 and 42/13-5Z, suspended for future use as early development wells, will be re-entered and side tracked to re-drill the reservoir interval. RWE Dea expects to drill and put into production up to eight development wells over the next two years.

The gas will be exported via a 20-in. (51-cm) pipeline from the Breagh Alpha platform to Coatham Sands, Redcar, and a 10-km (6.2-mi) onshore pipeline for processing at the Teesside Gas Processing Plant (TGPP) in Seal Sands.

The maximum capacity of the Breagh pipeline and onshore plant will be 400 MMcf/d, providing flexibility to transport gas from other satellite fields.

 Breagh is a conventional carboniferous reservoir, with further upside potential in surrounding exploration blocks. It is in blocks 42/12a and 42/13a in 62 m (203 ft) water depth, 100 km (62-mi) east of Teesside on the English northeast coast.

 5/17/2012