North Sea fields restart after Forties shutdown

Serica Energy, the oil and gas explorer, yesterday confirmed that production had resumed at three North Sea fields following the successful repair of the Forties pipeline.

The firm said it had been informed by oil major BP that the Bruce, Keith and Rhum fields were back online. Serica is in the process of acquiring BP’S interests in the fields.

They were shut on 11 December, along with a number of other North Sea facilities, but have now been brought back into production as part of a phased restart of the whole Forties pipeline system. It follows the recent discovery of cracks in what is one of the UK’S most important oil pipelines.

Serica Energy has exploration, development and production assets in the UK and exploration interests in the Atlantic margins offshore Ireland and Namibia.

The firm also holds an 18 per cent non-operated interest in the Erskine field in the UK central North Sea.