ABERDEEN, Scotland June 4 (Reuters) - French energy groupTotal will start up the Culzean field in the BritishNorth Sea within days, the group's UK Exploration and ProductionChief Jean-Luc Guiziou said on Tuesday, shortening the timelinefor the project.
Culzean, part of Total's acquisition of Maersk's oil and gasportfolio, will eventually produce 100,000 barrels of oilequivalent per day (boed) and provide 5% of British gas demand.Total estimates Culzean contains 250 to 300 million boe.
"Culzean is going to be delivered in a few days' time, aheadof schedule, under budget," Guiziou told an oil and gasconference in Aberdeen.
Total owns 49.99% of Culzean and operates it. It hadpreviously guided the field would start this year. BPowns 32% and JX Nippon 18%.
Earlier this year Total and partners including China's CNOOCannounced a significant new gas discovery off the coast ofBritain at the North Sea Glengorm prospect, with recoverableresources estimated at around 250 million boe.
Last year, Total made another major gas discovery on theGlendronach prospect, located off the coast of the Shetlandislands in the North Sea.
(Reporting By Shadia Nasralla; editing by David Evans)
BP (BP.)
