The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Apache 10million-barrel North Sea oil discovery
Exploration: US firm praised for investment in high-quality 3D seismic data
A new 10million-barrel oil discovery has been found in the North Sea.
US firm Apache yesterday announced the Garten discovery which is four miles south of the Beryl Alpha platform, around 155 miles north-east of Aberdeen.
Apache holds a 100% working interest in the Garten block. The discovery will be tied back to the Beryl Alpha platform, with production expected to begin in the first quarter of 2019.
It follows other recent discoveries in the area since 2015, with Callater, Corona and Storr.
Chief executive and president John Christmann said: “The Garten discovery marks our fourth commercial discovery in the Beryl area in the past three years spanning several play types ranging from the Tertiary to the Triassic.
“Apache’s strategy to focus on exploration near operated facilities is set to deliver significant production without the long cycle time of large-scale projects.”
The firm says the find is set to exceed 10million barrels of light oil, at the high end of pre-drill estimates. Andy Samuel, of industry regulator Oil and Gas Authority, said it is the product of using modern technology to uncover reserves. He said: “Garten marks
“Our fourth commercial discovery in the Beryl area in the past three years”
the 2,500th offshore exploration well on the UK Continental Shelf and is an excellent start for exploration drilling in 2018.
“Apache has created new opportunities by consistently investing in high-quality 3D seismic data to uncover near-field prospectivity around the Beryl Field. Modern data and new technologies are key to stimulating exploration and delivering the full potential of the UKCS.”