Offshore staff
Paladin Resources plc began oil production from the Brechin field in the North Sea, at an initial rate above 8,000 b/d. The operator dicovered the field in May 2004 with its first UK operated exploration well 22/23a-7, which penetrated 138 ft of oil-bearing Palaeocene Forties sandstone.
The field lies close to the Montrose, Arbroath, and Arkwright field complex. The company developed the field using a single horizontal subsea development well tied back to the Arkwright field subsea infrastructure about 3 km to the west. Paladin processes the oil on the Montrose field platform prior to exporting it to shore via the Forties pipeline system.
"The successful development of Brechin is a milestone for both Paladin as an operator and for the MonArb area. First oil has been delivered on budget and on schedule only 13 months after discovery, demonstrating the ability of Paladin and its partners and contractors to exploit satellite development opportunities efficiently," Colin Reid, general manager, Paladin, says.
Joint-venture partner interests in the Brechin field development and in the Montrose, Arbroath and Arkwright fields include operatorPaladin Expro Ltd.,
58.97% and Energy North Sea Ltd. 41.03%.
6/29/05
