Pending:

Floating production facility doing final marine trials in Poland

North Sea operator Ithaca Energy has moved a step closer to start-uponits flagship Greater Stella Area (GSA) development.

The firm said yesterday the GSA floating production facility, FPF-1, which had been undergoing modifications in Poland, had left Remontowa shipyard in Gdansk. It added: “The vessel has been moved to a deepwater location offshore Gdansk to undertake final marine system trials over the course of next week.

“Upon completion of these trials, the FPF-1 will commence the tow to the Stella field.

“A further update will be provided once towing operations have commenced.”

Greater Stella, with estimated net proven and probable reserves totalling more than 30million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) is in the heart of the Central Graben area of the central UK North Sea.

Its licences cover the Stella and Harrier fields, which are in the process of being developed, as well as the Hurricane discovery and Twister prospect.

Plans for the joint development of the fields were approved by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change in April 2012. They centre on the drilling of subsea wells tied back to FPF-1.

Operator Ithaca expects start- up production of about 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent (boe) perday, including 16,000 for its 54.66% stake.

The firm shares ownership with Dyas (25.34%) and energy service firm Petrofac (20%).

GSA start-up has been delayed by the FPF-1 floating production facility modifications, carried out by Petrofac.

The original target date for Stella and Harrier coming on stream passed more than three years ago.

First production from the development is now expected in September.

Output from the Stella field is expected to more than double Ithaca’s production to 20-25,000 boe per day.

IMMINENT ARRIVAL: Ithaca’s FPF-1 will be towed to the Greater Stella Area development once it completes trials offshore from Gdansk