Flow rates from the Topaz appraisal well in the UK southern North Sea have exceeded commercial thresholds, according to RWE Dea (UK).
Offshore staff
LONDON -- Flow rates from the Topaz appraisal well in the UK southern North Sea have exceeded commercial thresholds, according to RWE Dea (UK). Noble Al White drilled and tested the well.
The planned development will be a single well tieback to the Tullow-operated Schooner field 15 km (9.3 mi) to the northwest and through the CMS gas transportation system to the Theddlethorpe gas terminal. Major contracts have been awarded to Technip for pipelay and tie-in activities, to V&M Tubes UK for linepipe, and to Duco Ltd Technip for umbilical supply.
A field development plan is anticipated to be submitted to the Department of Energy and Climate Change by year–end. First production is expected in 3Q 2009.
"The Topaz appraisal well was a success and enables us to move quickly to bring the field into production in 2009," says Thomas Rappuhn, COO of RWE Dea. "Developments such as Topaz demonstrate the value that can be achieved through appraisal drilling when there is good collaboration between field and infrastructure owners."
