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BP MAKES FIRST WEST OF SHETLAND CRUDE OIL SHIPMENT

Oct. 31, 1994

The petroleum industry has shipped its first cargo of oil produced in the U.K.'s West of Shetland hotspot. BP Exploration Operating Co. Ltd. sent almost half a million barrels of oil to market following an extended well test. Production was from Block 204/24a Foinaven field, in which BP is operator and 80% interest holder, with Shell U.K. Ltd. holding 20% (see map, OGJ, June 20, p. 17).

The petroleum industry has shipped its first cargo of oil produced in the U.K.'s West of Shetland hotspot.

BP Exploration Operating Co. Ltd. sent almost half a million barrels of oil to market following an extended well test. Production was from Block 204/24a Foinaven field, in which BP is operator and 80% interest holder, with Shell U.K. Ltd. holding 20% (see map, OGJ, June 20, p. 17).

Ocean Guardian semisubmersible rig reentered the 204/24a-4 appraisal well and carried out an extended well test from Aug. 15 to Sept. 29. The well flowed as much as 20,000 b/d of 26 oil on test, with an average flow rate of 17,800 b/d.

A total 437,000 bbl of oil was processed during the test and stored in the Vigdis Knutsen tanker. When the test was complete, the oil was sent to BP's Rotterdam refinery.

In early August, BP announced a contract for conversion of a support vessel into a production ship for development of Foinaven field (OGJ, Aug. 8, p. 75).

Foinaven, due on stream in late 1995 or early 1996, will be the first field development west of the Shetland Islands.