Chevron-operated Erskine field in the UK North Sea is currently unable to produce due to an issue with a pipeline.
The Erskine Field lies approximately 150 miles (241 km) east of Aberdeen, in water depths of about 296 feet (90 m). It is operated by Chevron (50 percent) with Chrysaor (32 percent) and Serica Energy (18 percent) holding non-operated interests in the field.
Serica Energy informed on Monday that during routine pipeline cleaning operations of the Lomond to Everest condensate export pipeline, a blockage occurred in the pipeline.
The cause is currently being investigated and, during this period, the Erskine field will be unable to produce, Serica added in a brief statement on Monday.
Discovered in 1981 in Block 23/26, Erskine is a gas condensate field. It was the first high-pressure, high-temperature field to be developed in the U.K. Continental Shelf. First production was achieved in November 1997.
The field includes a normally unattended installation and is remotely controlled from Chrysaor’s Lomond platform. An 18.6 mile (30 km) pipeline links the two facilities.
Processing takes place in a dedicated module on the Lomond platform. Gas and condensate are exported separately to Chrysaor’s North Everest platforms before gas is finally exported via the Central Area Transmission System and condensate is exported through the Forties Pipeline System.
To remind, it has been less that a month since Erskine restarted production following a controlled shutdown in December due to a hairline crack at the onshore section of the Ineos-operated Forties pipeline.
Offshore Energy Today Staff