Serica proposes North Sea Columbus-Shearwater pipeline tie-in

Serica Energy has submitted a development plan for the Columbus gas/condensate field in the UK central North Sea.

The company aims to produce up to 40 MMcf/d at peak, along with 1,150 b/d of condensate and natural gas liquids (NGLs) from the field in blocks 23/16f and 23/21a.

Production would head through a single subsea well, connected to Dana Petroleum/Shell’s Arran-Shearwater pipeline (also carrying output from the Arran field).

The development plan is therefore contingent on Dana also securing development approval and go-ahead for the Arran project.

On arrival at the Shearwater platform facilities, the Columbus wellstream would be separated into gas and liquids, exported respectively via the SEGAL pipeline to St Fergus, and the Forties Pipeline System to Cruden Bay.

Timing would also depend on the Arran-Shearwater pipeline being tied into the Shearwater platform during 3Q 2020: Serica is targeting for the second quarter of 2021 for start-up of Columbus.

Britain’s Oil & Gas Authority has indicated its approval will be subject to certain conditions including approval of Columbus’ environmental statement.

However, Serica expects to receive clearance in both cases before the end of September.

Its partners in the project are EOG Resources United Kingdom and Endeavour Energy UK.

Source: Offshore Magazine