Columbus Field Development Plan Approval
Wednesday 31 October 2018
Serica Energy plc announced that the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has approved the Field Development Plan (FDP) for the North Sea Columbus Development which was submitted for approval in June of this year. Peak production is expected to be 7,800 gross barrels of oil equivalent (“boe”) per day. Best Estimate Gross (2C) Contingent Resources have been calculated to be 13.4 million boe.
The Columbus Development is located in Blocks 23/16f and 23/21a Columbus Sub Area in the UKCS Central North Sea. The Development Area will be drained by a single well, which will be connected to the recently approved Arran-Shearwater pipeline, through which Columbus production will be exported along with Arran field production. When the production reaches the Shearwater platform facilities, it will be separated into gas and liquids and exported to terminals onshore. Columbus development timing is dependent on the Arran-Shearwater pipeline being tied into the Shearwater platform in Q3 2020. Columbus start-up is targeted for mid-2021.
OGA approval of the FDP was subject to a number of statutory requirements, including the submission of an Environmental Statement, which was approved by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy at the beginning of October.
Serica is operator of the Columbus Development with a 50% interest. Other participants are EOG Resources United Kingdom Limited and Endeavour Energy UK Limited, each holding a 25% interest.