Serica Energy: Erskine field resumes production

Following delays caused by issues with a subsea pipeline near Shell’s Lomond platform in the UK North Sea, Chevron’s Erskine field has resumed production.

Serica Energy, a partner in Erskine on Tuesday said that Shell had informed it that the issues concerning the re-commissioning of the Lomond export facilities were resolved and Erskine oil and gas production resumed on August 29.

This follows the reported work to clear a blockage in the Lomond to Everest condensate export line and the summer maintenance program on the Lomond platform.

Since restarting, production has averaged over 3,000 boe per day net to Serica, with a peak rate of over 5,000 boe on one day demonstrating the strong capability of the reservoir. Fluctuations in rates have been due to some restrictions on the Forties Pipeline System with production over the remainder of the year expected to be in the range of 2,500 to 3,000 boe per day, net to Serica.
The Erskine Field lies approximately 150 miles (241 km) east of Aberdeen, Scotland, in the Central North Sea, in water depths of about 296 feet (90 m).

Discovered in 1981 in Block 23/26, Erskine is a gas condensate field. It was the first high-pressure, high-temperature field to be developed in the U.K. Continental Shelf. First production was achieved in December 1997.

The field includes a normally unattended installation and is remotely controlled from Shell’s Lomond platform. An 18.6 mile (30 km) pipeline links the two facilities.