Erskine field’s restart delayed

Serica Energy said yesterday the Erskine field’s return to production had been delayed until the end of this month.

The exploration and production company had expected to restart production from the North Sea field on September 13.

Output was suspended on July 31 for facilities maintenance to be carried out.

The Erskine field produces via an unmanned platform, with production being controlled from the nearby Lomond installation.

London-based Serica said repairs still had to be completed on Lomond, currently operated by Shell.

Serica also said the operator of the Forties Pipeline System (FPS) had asked for extra checks to be carried out after a treatment used to clear wax deposits in the Lomond to Everest pipeline.

“Output was suspended for facilities maintenance”

Serica chairman Tony Craven Walker added: “The monitoring required by the FPS operator and the need to undertake caisson repairs (on Lomond) affects the restart of Erskine production but is not expected to materially affect forward production plans.”

Production from Erskine was interrupted for six months in 2016 by a pipeline blockage.

The shut-in contributed to a 23% drop in Serica’s pre-tax profits, which totalled £2.4million last year.

Alternative Investment Market-listed Serica holds an 18% interest in Erskine, 150miles east of Aberdeen. Chevron operates and owns 50%, while Shell has 32%.

Lomond will transfer to Chrysaor once its purchase of a package of North Sea assets from Shell goes through.