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Petrofac begins Don fields drilling campaign

Oil & Gas Journal

Uchenna Izundu
International Editor

LONDON, Aug. 27 -- Petrofac Energy Developments has spudded the first well on the West Don field in the UK North Sea, which is expected to start production in second-quarter 2009, along with Don Southwest field. The company is using the Transocean John Shaw semisubmersible drilling rig.

The fields, 150-km northeast of the Shetland Islands, are in 170 m of water. West Don is on Blocks 211/13b and 211/18a. Petrofac will drill seven wells on the fields over the next year, with three sequential wells on West Don prior to moving across to Don Southwest early in 2009.

Petrofac has begun laying the infield pipelines and export infrastructure for the fields' development. Pipeline trenching is also complete. The installation of the subsea structures and diving tie-ins is scheduled to start at the end of August.

Initially oil will be exported by offshore tanker loading for 6 months and then will switch to pipeline export via a subsea line to Lundin Petroleum's Thistle platform and the Brent pipeline system. Terms have now been agreed with Lundin Petroleum for the export service.