BP, on behalf of the Clair North Sea oilfield partners, has announced that oil began flowing from the field, 75km west of Shetland, on 24 February. Initial production is through the original appraisal well which has now been successfully brought online.
It is planned that production will build-up to a plateau of 60,000brl/d through a continuous platform drilling programme. The field was discovered in 1977 and, until now, is still one of the largest remaining undeveloped reservoirs in the UKCS, with estimated recoverable reserves of 250million brl from the initial part of the development. This comprises a conventional platform in 140m of water, with production and process topsides facilities supported by a fixed steel jacket; the development is the first steel-based structure in the west of Shetland area.
Oil from the field is exported to the Sullom Voe terminal in Shetland via a 105-km, 22-in diameter pipeline. Gas is to be exported through a 10-km, 6-in diameter spur line into the Magnus Enhanced Oil Recovery trunkline.
The partners in the field are BP (operator) 28.6%, ConocoPhillips 24.0%, ChevronTexaco 19.4%, Shell 18.7%, and Amerada Hess 9.3%.
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