EnQuest advances Kraken EOR, Magnus drilling and North Sea decommissioning plans

Kraken EOR project advances

EnQuest aims to mature the Kraken enhanced oil recovery (EOR) project in the northern UK North Sea.

The company sees potential to increase the field’s recoverable resource by more than 40 MMbbl.

Following initial polymer testing, the current focus is on ensuring the compatibility of reservoir chemicals with the Armada Kraken FPSO’s topside process equipment.

Fuel gas import and Bressay tieback plans

EnQuest’s team is also working on a fuel gas import project that would involve a subsea tieback of a gas well on the undeveloped Bressay Field to the Armada Kraken FPSO.

This would provide an alternative to the diesel currently used to power operations, potentially delivering a marked reduction in the FPSO’s emissions and operating costs.

The Bressay gas well could form part of an expanded well program, comprising a resumption of drilling at Kraken and plug and abandonment (P&A) of subsea wells.

FPSO services contract awarded

In addition, EnQuest has awarded EnerMech a five-year contract to provide the FPSO operator Bumi Armada with crane management and lifting services on the Armada Kraken vessel.

Heather and Thistle decommissioning progress

Elsewhere in the UK northern North Sea, EnQuest has finally completed all P&A activities at the Heather and Thistle fields.

Last year, Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit vessel removed the Heather topsides from the field, with the jacket set for removal in 2027.

Preparations continued for Thistle’s removal under the next phase of heavy-lift operations. Teams from EnQuest and Saipem have been collaborating since last April on engineering and planning for the pre-disembarkation preparation phase.

Subsea campaigns included the use of a specially engineered conductor drill and pinning tool for the final disembarkation from the platform, which should take place before mid-year.

Alba cessation planning 

This summer, the Alba Field in the central UK North Sea, originally developed by Chevron in the 1990s, should reach cessation of asset production this summer.

Magnus infill drilling and resource upside

EnQuest has also progressed planning and engineering work on the Kittiwake platform wells and subsea wells in the same sector and at the Magnus Field in the East Shetland Basin.

In May, a new six-well infill drilling campaign should begin at Magnus, continuing into 2027. The line-up includes well targets in the Lower Kimmeridge Clay Formation (LKCF) reservoir, thought to hold about 325 MMbbl of oil in place. EnQuest aims to access 10 MMbbl of production from the next phase LKCF program.

Thereafter, its sees potential to deliver a further 28 MMboe via low-cost drilling and well intervention opportunities.

Export resilience measures

Storm damage earlier this year at the third-party-operated Ninian Central Platform (NCP) led to a five-week outage for all tied-in fields, including Magnus. Now EnQuest is seeking to reduce future risks by implementing a bypass alternative to the NCP during 2027.

This, alongside work at the Sullom Voe Terminal in Shetland on a new stabilization facility, would secure a long-term export pathway for Magnus’ oil, the company said.