OGA sanctions Hurricane’s latest plans for Lancaster in Shetland area
Britain’s Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has approved Hurricane Energy’s development plan addendum for the basement Lancaster oil field west of Shetland.
The approval, and associated production, flare, and vent consents, will allow for production with a flowing bottom-hole pressure up to 300 psi below the bubble point pressure of the fluid – 1,605 psia at 1,240 metres (4,068 feet) TVDSS – provided that no incremental liberated gas is produced to surface.
The consent runs for an initial three-month period to the 15th September. Production, flare, and vent consents will then be issued on a three-monthly basis, with Hurricane supplying the OGA with data to demonstrate conformance with the consent’s conditions.
Approval satisfies a condition of the company’s proposed financial restructuring, first announced on the 30th April.
CEO Antony Maris thanked the OGA technical and management teams “for the open-minded approach they brought to these discussions. This approval, whilst not having any immediate impact on the reservoir performance of the Lancaster field, will assist with longer-term reservoir management, enabling us to optimise the field’s performance.
“Approval now, while we still have some months before we reach bubble point, will allow both us and the OGA to establish base line performance and to test the three-month approval process.”
Source: Offshore Magazine