First oil export through the new Kittiwake-Forties pipeline
Fri, 30 November 2007
ABERDEEN-BASED Dana Petroleum has launched oil production through its new export pipeline linking the Kittiwake platform to the Forties pipeline system. The 10-in diameter, 33-km long pipeline linking the Kittiwake platform to BP’s Unity platform has a capacity of up to 40,000brl/d and will deliver oil production from all the fields in the Greater Kittiwake Area (GKA) in the UK Central North Sea.
Replacing the existing shuttle tanker and loading-buoy system for oil export, the new pipeline is expected to substantially improve operational uptime, lower overall operating costs, and allow GKA field lives to be extended. Volumes exported through the pipeline include current production from the existing Kittiwake, Mallard, Gadwall, and Goosander fields, as well as potential production from the Grouse field where an appraisal and development well has recently been successfully drilled and flow tested. In addition, as-yet-undeveloped discoveries including the Christian, Bligh, Whinchat, and Wagtail fields, and other exploration prospects, may also benefit from the new export route.
Dana completed the acquisition of a 50% stake in the Greater Kittiwake in November 2003, with Venture Production purchasing the remaining 50% of the field interests as part of the same transaction. Since then, Dana and Venture have made significant investments to further develop the established Kittiwake and Mallard oilfields and to bring the Gadwall and Goosander oil fields on stream.