By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 30 -- Total E&P UK Ltd. received approval for the $1 billion Phase 2 development of the West Franklin field from the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change.
West Franklin is in Blocks 29/5b and 29/4d of the UK North Sea, about 240 km east of Aberdeen. Production of gas and condensate from the field, discovered in 2003, began in 2007. In 2008, Total said the drilling of an appraisal well more than doubled the field’s estimated reserves and prompted the Phase 2 development.
Phase 2 involves the drilling of three wells and the installation of a new platform tied back to the Elgin-Franklin facilities. Total estimates that production from the phase will start by yearend 2013 and recover 85 million boe. It expects production to reach 40,000 boe/d.
Total operates Elgin-Franklin and West Franklin fields on behalf of Elgin Franklin Oil & Gas Ltd. (Total 77.5%, and GDF Suez, 22.5%). EFOG holds 46.17% interest in the fields. Its partneres are Eni Elgin/Franklin Ltd. 21.86%, BG International (CNS) Ltd. 14.11%, E.ON Ruhrgas UK E&P Ltd. 5.2%, Chevron NorthSea Ltd. 3.9%, Esso Exploration & Production UK Ltd. 4.38%, Dyas UK Ltd. 2.19%, and Summit Petroleum Ltd. 2.19%.