The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Move to unlock reserves of outer Moray Firth Oil and gas: OGA to open supplementary licensing round early next year
The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has announced it will open a new licensing round, targeting up to 300 million barrels of oil in an under-developed area of the North Sea.
The Greater Buchan Area, in the outer Moray Firth, contains “a number of undeveloped discoveries”, according to the regulator.
A supplementary licensing round will be opened up in the first quarter of next year, which the OGA said will be supported by newly available data.
Companies are being encouraged to partner with each other to uncover the “significant potential recoverable resources”.
Andy Samuel, chief executive of the OGA, said: “A number of companies have already been showing high interest in the Greater Buchan Area, the exciting exploration potential and the many undeveloped discoveries.
“That’s why we’ve taken the decision to use a supplementary licensing round coupled with an Area Plan to help unlock the progression of what could be significant remaining resources. There’s much to play for across this whole region so we are strongly encouraging prospective operators to look beyond individual opportunities and actively partner with other like-minded companies to potentially bring forward mutually beneficial clusters of developments.”
T h i s l a t e s t supplementary round folllows the 31st licensing round, which was launched by the OGA in July. The regulator will host an information session for interested companies on November 15. At the event it will provide an overview on the timing and process of the supplementary round.
The prospective blocks on offer are large areas around the Buchan field, near other developed and undeveloped prospects including Tweedsmuir, Goldeneye, and Tudor Rose.
Last year, Repsol Sinopec Resources UK’s Buchan Alpha platform was sent for decommissioning after having produced almost 150m barrels of oil.
The platform was sent to Dales Voe, in Lerwick, to be dismantled, and is thought to be the first major North Sea floating production facility to be disposed of in Scotland. The vessel started production in 1981 from the field around 100 miles north-east of Aberdeen.
Landings from 11 boats and 11 consignments totalled 5,543 boxes. Cod large £3.00-£4.50; medium £2.70-£3.00; selected £2.20-£2.60; small £1.60-£2 .10; haddock large £2.50-£2.90; medium £2.50-£2.70; selected £2.70-£2.90; seed £1.80-£2.25; chippers 80p-£1.40; metros 70p-£1.00; round haddock 60p-£1.00; whiting £1.50-£2.50; round whiting 70p£1.00; lemon sole £3.00-£8.00; monks: lge/med/sel £4.30£5.00; coley large £1.20 - £1.35, medium £1.20£1.50, selected n/a, small 70p-85p; megrims £2.00-£6.20; plaice £2.00-£2.50; hake £2.50-£5.00; witches £1.00-£2.00; ling £2.50-£3.00; squid £2.00-£8.00.
Phoenix, Helenus, Forever Faithful, Valhalla, Jubilee Spirit, Castlewood, Attain, Osprey, Ocean Harvest, Harvester, Ceol-NaMara.
“There’s much to play for across this whole region”
Norlan, Deeside, Adventurer, Sapphire, Prevail, Amaryha, Ranger, Chloe Ella, Arrow, Flourish, Fear Not.
Landings from two boats and totalled 328 fish boxes and 114 prawn boxes.
Haddock round 40p-50p, gutted 50p-£1.65; whiting round 50p-65p, gutted 90p; cod £2.15-£3.15; monkfish £4.00-£4.80; coley 75p-£1.00; ling £2.75; witches 60p£1.90; squid £3.80; lemon sole £2.90-£4.80; plaice £1.50; hake £3.00.