By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 10--E.ON Ruhrgas UK E&P Ltd. has started production from Babbage gas field in the southern UK North Sea.
E.ON, the operator, expects the field to produce more than 5 billion cu m of gas over 20 years. The production rate will be 2 million cu m/day when all wells are online.
The first phase of development included the installation of a platform in 42 m of water about 80 km off the coast, the drilling of three production wells, and the laying of 28 km of pipeline to connect the field with existing production facilities.
Two more wells will be drilled in a second development phase next year. Fifteen workers will staff the platform in the first 2 years of operation, after which the facility will be managed from shore.
Interests are E.ON 47%, Dana Petroleum E&P Ltd. 44%, and Centrica Resources Ltd. 13%.