Western Isles, Barbara/Phyllis closer to sanction

Nov. 19, 2009
Dana Petroleum expects to select a preferred concept for developing its Western Isles (formerly Rinnes) discoveries in the UK northern North Sea early in 2010.

Offshore staff

ABERDEEN, UK -- Dana Petroleum expects to select a preferred concept for developing its Western Isles (formerly Rinnes) discoveries in the UK northern North Sea early in 2010. It is aiming for project sanction next summer, with first oil by late 2012.

Elsewhere in the UK sector, the Babbage jacket and topsides were installed in September, with hook-up, well tie-ins and drilling still in progress. Dana expects to deliver first gas next spring.

As for the Barbara/Phyllis joint gas field development in the central North Sea, the partnership is finalizing commercial terms for use of offshore infrastructure. The preferred host facility should be chosen by year-end, leading hopefully to project sanction next summer and first gas late in 2012.

As for other North Sea programs where Dana is a partner, individual well performance at Nexen’s recently on stream Ettrick field has been sound, but production overall remains constrained by commissioning of the gas compression system, which has taken longer than expected.

Earlier this year, Dana participated in Statoil’s Fulla gas-condensate discovery. The partnership has since conducted sub-surface and engineering scope studies to determine the field’s value. Dana is considering its options, which include divesting its interest to more gas-focussed companies.

11/19/2009