Pinched from RKH thread17 Apr 2019 14:27
Premier Oil before end-June is aiming to sanction the Catcher North and Laverda prospects, in UK central blocks 28/9a and 28/4a, respectively. The $70 million (net) project will entail two development wells drilled from a common drill centre and tied back to the Varadero field, in block 28/9a.
Premier is aiming to drill infill wells to target unswept areas of the Catcher reservoir to extend plateau rates and to ensure the FPSO continues to operate at full capacity. Drilling is scheduled to start in mid-2020, with first oil targeted for early-2021. In addition, the company expects to drill an infill well in Varadero immediately before the Catcher North and Laverda drilling programme to target resources beyond the reach of the initial production wells. Premier also plans to acquire 4D seismic across the Catcher area in the second quarter of 2020 to help confirm additional future infill well locations.
The company, in a full-year 2018 results statement last Thursday (7 March), reported Catcher oil plateau rates in the fourth quarter of last year had increased to 66,000 b/d (gross), considerably higher than the 50,000 b/d envisaged at sanction, helping the company achieve record production during the year of 80,500 b/d of oil equivalent.
Meanwhile, in the southern basin, Premier reports work on the Tolmount Main field, in block 42/28d, is now well into the execution phase. Construction of the minimal facilities platform started at Rosetti Marino’s Ravenna yard in Italy in December, with fabrication of the primary structural steel and nodes as well as the rolling of the tubulars under way and progressing to plan. Detailed engineering and procurement of the trees, wellheads and subsea pipeline has also started. The field is expected to produce around 500 Bcf (gross) of gas, with peak production of up to 300 MMcfd (gross).
Premier says: “By partnering with infrastructure company Kellas Midstream, we have been able to minimise our share of capital expenditure while retaining our equity exposure to the upside in the project, significantly enhancing the expected returns on our investment.” Premier continues to estimate that its share of the capex to develop Tolmount Main will be around $120 million.