First oil flows from Apache’s Garten development

Apache Corporation has initiated production from its Garten development on Block 9/18a Area-W in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea.

The discovery well, which is located 6 kilometers south of the Beryl Alpha platform, was placed on production in late November, less than eight months after being drilled in March 2018.

At the beginning of November, Apache revealed its plans to accelerate initial production from the Garten discovery from the first quarter 2019 to fourth quarter 2018.

On Wednesday, December 5 Apache said that the discovery well at Garten encountered a downthrown structural closure with 778 feet of net oil pay in stacked, high-quality, Jurassic-aged sandstone reservoirs.

The well is currently producing from the Beryl sand at a rate of 13.7 thousand barrels of oil per day (MBOPD) and 15.7 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMCFPD). Two lower zones were also successfully tested, and all three zones will ultimately be commingled to maximize recovery.

The strong initial rate establishes excellent momentum late in the year and will positively impact Apache’s 2019 production guidance. As previously disclosed, the recoverable resource is expected to exceed 10 million barrels of light oil plus associated natural gas. Apache has a 100 percent working interest in the Garten development.

Jon Graham, region vice president – North Sea for Apache, said, “We are proud to have brought the Garten field online well ahead of our original target of first-quarter 2019. Performance from the three zones we tested is very encouraging, and we expect this field will significantly increase Apache’s reserves and production in the UK. With exposure to strong Brent oil and UK natural gas prices, Garten will be a notable contributor to Apache’s cashflow in 2019.

Graham added: “The support we received from the Oil and Gas Authority cannot be overstated, and we are proud to be contributing toward maximizing economic recovery in the UK North Sea with the successful development of the field.”

“Garten is a unique technical achievement and represents Apache’s most complex smart well completion to date,” added Mark Hobbs, director of Operations & Projects at Apache North Sea.

Dr. Andy Samuel, chief executive of the Oil and Gas Authority, said, “It is great to see the Garten field come onstream less than a year from the original discovery and well ahead of the original plan. The Garten well was the 2,500th exploration well on the UK Continental Shelf. Apache’s continued success reinforces the tremendous potential of the UKCS, which Apache is unlocking using advanced data gathering and analytics with excellent application of a number of technologies including 3D seismic to uncover high value near-field prospectivity.”

The Garten field is tied back to the Beryl Alpha platform, which is located 180 miles northeast of Aberdeen. It follows Apache’s successful Callater field discovery in the Beryl area, which came online in May 2017.

‘Remarkable’ news

Oil & Gas UK, a representative body for the UK’s offshore oil and gas industry, has hailed news that Apache Corporation has reached first oil in just eight months from its Garten field as remarkable.

Commenting, Oil & Gas UK Upstream Policy Director, Mike Tholen, said: “To have delivered a project from discovery to first oil in just eight months shows the remarkable agility of the UK Continental Shelf as it continues to become more competitive.

“Apache have shown what can be achieved through a constructive and collaborative relationship with its supply chain. This is great news for everyone involved in the project, and to the wider industry who will be keen to share in the lessons learned.

“It is further proof that the UK’s offshore oil and gas industry is staying the course on the road to Vision 2035.”

Offshore Energy Today Staff