Neptune Energy Commences Subsea Construction on Seagull Project
Neptune Energy and its joint venture partners bp and JAPEX, announced drilling has commenced on the Seagull project in the UK Central North Sea.
The Gorilla VI (JU-248) jack-up rig, operated by Valaris, will drill four wells for the development over the course of the drilling campaign which is expected to last 18 months.
“In late 2020, we successfully completed the first subsea construction phase for the Seagull project, that underpins Neptune’s further growth on the UKCS. Thanks to a collaborative approach between Neptune, our partners bp and JAPEX and key contractors, we are progressing with the project at pace and have reached another important milestone. Seagull is expected to produce 50,000 boe per day (gross) and will make a significant contribution to both UK MER and energy security, as well as supporting local supply chains. This is a key milestone for Seagull – the first step in offshore execution of the project. We continue to work with our contractors and suppliers, focussing on the safe deployment of people, vessels, and equipment and managing the challenges associated with the impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” Neptune Energy’s UK Managing Director, Alexandra Thomas, said.
TechnipFMC, working under the Neptune Energy Alliance Agreement, has deployed the Apache II pipelay vessel to start the pipe-in-pipe installation, laying approximately 5km of pipe connecting the Egret manifold to the Seagull development.
“We are delighted to see the first offshore execution milestone on the project come to fruition. Despite the challenging backdrop of COVID-19 we have worked collaboratively with Neptune as one team to deliver our scopes to date both safely and efficiently. This comes as a result of the valuable contribution from our design, engineering, HSEQ, procurement and fabrication teams and we look forward to continuing our working relationship with Neptune to achieve first oil at the Seagull development,” TechnipFMC Vice President, Commercial & Projects UK, Mediterranean & Caspian, Bill Morrice, pointed out.
TechnipFMC’s Normand Mermaid was mobilised in late August to provide pre-lay activities, including surveying and boulder removal. Following the pipe installation, its Normand Ranger will undertake trenching activities for the development.
Seagull Project
Seagull is a high pressure, high temperature (HPHT) development located in the Central North Sea on UK licence P1622 Block 22/29C, 17km south of the BP Operated ETAP Central Processing Facility (CPF). Proved plus probable gross reserves are estimated at 50 million boe.
The development will be tied back to the ETAP Central Processing Facility, partially utilising existing subsea infrastructure. Gas from the development will come onshore at the CATS processing terminal at Teesside, while oil will come onshore through the Forties Pipeline System to the Kinneil Terminal, Grangemouth.
Neptune is the operator of Seagull and has a 35 per cent equity interest. Its joint venture partners are BP with 50 per cent and JAPEX with 15 per cent.
About Neptune Energy Group
Neptune Energy is an independent global E&P company with operations across the North Sea, North Africa, and Asia Pacific. The business had production of 144,000 net barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2019 and 2P reserves at 31st December 2019 of 633 million barrels of oil equivalent. The Company, founded by Sam Laidlaw, is backed by CIC and funds advised by Carlyle Group and CVC Capital Partners.
