Approval sought for deepwater Cambo oil project west of Shetland

June 29, 2021
Siccar Point Energy E&P has applied to the UK’s Oil and Gas Authority for consent to the Cambo oil field project, 125 km (78 mi) west of Shetland.

Offshore staff

ABERDEEN, UK – Siccar Point Energy E&P has applied to the UK’s Oil and Gas Authority for consent to the Cambo oil field project, 125 km (78 mi) west of Shetland.

Cambo is in blocks 204/4a, 204/5a, 204/9a and 204/10a, with the proposed development close to the UK/Faroe Islands median line. Water depths range from 1,050 m (3,445 ft) in the southeast to 1,100 m (3,609 ft) in the northwest within the Faroe-Shetland Channel.

Siccar Point’s environmental statement concerns a moored FPSO producing hydrocarbons from two drill centers, comprising eight new production wells and four water injectors.

Cambo 204/10a-5Y, drilled as an appraisal well in 2018, will also be completed for production.

Oil will be exported via shuttle tanker while produced gas will head through a new 70-km (43.5-mi) pipeline in water depths descending from 1,085-190 m (3,560-623 ft) and extending southeast to connect with the West of Shetland Pipeline System.

Offshore development activities are currently due to start at the field later this year, with first drilling planned in 2022. First oil should follow in 2025: Cambo has an anticipated lifespan of 25 years.

At a recent briefing organized recently by Oil and Gas UK, market intelligence manager Ross Dornan said the association expected to see more UK offshore oil and gas projects going forward to a final investment decision.

Last year, he added, UK oil and gas production accounted for around 70% of Britain’s total energy supplies, making new developments such as Cambo “really important as contributing to the UK’s energy security.”

But even if Cambo produces as expected 150 MMbbl over the next 25 years, this would represent only 4% of demand, he pointed out.

06/29/2021