Huntington Oil Field Resumes Production (UK)

August 22, 2013

Production from the Huntington field in the UK North Sea is now back online, after being shut due to issues related to the cargo tank venting system on board the platform at the field.

Noreco, a Norwegian oil firm with a share in the field, has been informed by the operator of the Huntington Field, E.ON UK E&P, that production was restarted on 19 August 2013 following the precautionary shutdown due to concerns with the cargo tank venting activities during low wind conditions. As was previously announced, Huntington production was temporarily shut-in on 8 August 2013.

Only small volumes have been produced since 19 August, and output is still subject to weather conditions. Prior to the commissioning of the hydrocarbon blanketing system, expected during the week of 26 August 2013, production will be temporarily shut-in if wind speeds drop below safe venting conditions (approximately 10 knots). Once the hydrocarbon blanketing system has been commissioned it is expected that production will ramp up to pre-shutdown levels of approximately 27,000 boe/day (23,400 bbl/day of oil and 20 MMcf/day of natural gas), representing 5,400 boepd net to Noreco.

During the ramp up back to pre-shutdown production levels, the online commissioning and stabilization of the second gas compression system, referred as Train A, will occur. Once the compressor is on stream, production is expected to reach full capacity.

The working interests in the Huntington field are E.ON E&P UK Ltd (25% Operator), Premier Oil plc (40%), Noreco Oil UK Ltd (20%), and Iona Energy (15%).

[mappress]
August 22, 2013