Erskine field output has resumed, says Serica

Serica Energy, the energy explorer with North Sea assets, yesterday said it was “pleased” to report that the Erskine field has resumed production after the successful repair of the Forties pipeline system.

Erskine was shut in on 11 December and during the last few days production has gradually been restarted at increasing rates with output currently around 2,000 barrels of energy per day net, Aim-listed Serica said. Last month oil giant BP announced the intended sale of North Sea assets to Serica.

That £300 million deal will see Serica buy into the Bruce, Keith and Rhum fields, with interests of 36, 35 and 50 per cent respectively. The deal, which will increase the relative minnow Serica’s output by sevenfold, is anticipated to be completed in the third quarter of 2018.

Serica’s chairman Tony Craven Walker has said the company can “prosper” in the North Sea’s rapidly changing upstream industry.