Offshore staff
LONDON, UK --Petrofac expects UK government approval by mid-year to develop West Don and Don SW fields in the northern North Sea.
The company also has agreed with Sea Production to use the floating production semisubmersibleNorthern Producer for this program. The vessel will be stationed between the two fields, with first oil due in 2009.
TheNorthern Producer, previously deployed by Texaco on the Galley field, can handle 55,000 b/d of oil, and also has facilities for associated gas, water injection, and export processing. Petrofac plans modifications to extend the vessel's working life.
West Don, discovered in 1975, contains oil in Mid-Jurassic Brent sandstones. Petrofac plans to put in two high-angle producer wells and one down-dip water injector from a central cluster, tied back to the platform.
Don SW has a similar geological setting to the nearby Thistle and Magnus South fields. Its under-saturated oil lies in dip and fault traps at a depth of 11,000-11,500 ft (3,353-3,505 m). The development plan calls for two high angle producers and two water injectors, again tied back to theNorthern Producer.
Petrofac has contracted the semisubJohn Shaw for the seven wells on the two fields, probably starting towards end-June. It estimates total costs for the two projects at around $705 million.
Valiant North Sea is a partner in both developments, with First Oil, Nippon and Stratic also participating in West Don.
01/10/2008
