West of Shetland Lancaster wells in new test phase

Hurricane Energy has provided an update on the extended oil production test on the basement Lancaster field west of Shetland.

The 205/21a-6 well has delivered an average oil flow of around 12,000 b/d, but with increasing levels of produced water.

Prior to commissioning of electric submersible pumps, which started last week following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions on UK offshore operations, the volume of water production from the well represented a water cut of around 11% compared with 8% prior to the 5^th June.

Both this and the 205/21a-7z well are now operating with ESPs at a combined production rate of 15,000 b/d. Testing with the ESPs will continue for up to two weeks.

Hurricane added that the FPSO Aoka Mizu has maintained a high level of operational uptime, and will provisionally undergo a week-long maintenance in September.

The company is currently re-assessing the full range of potential geological and reservoir models for Lancaster and this may lead to a material downgrade of contingent resource estimates.

As for future activity on the field, the design and procurement lead times coupled with the limited operational weather window west of Shetland during the winter months suggest that further well operations would start in 1Q 2021 at the earliest.

Finally, Britain’s Oil and Gas Authority has given notice to the Greater Warwick Area joint venture (Hurricane/Spirit Energy) of a proposed field determination area over local structural closure at the Lincoln discovery.

The partners are working on a route forward for Lincoln.

Source: Offshore Magazine