Serica Energy said today that production from the Erskine field would resume in September as work continues on a new export pipeline.
The new 26kilometre-long pipeline will bypass a blockage caused by wax deposit build-ups between the Lomond and Everest platforms.
The route is used to export fluids from Erskine, which is 18% owned by Serica.
An order was placed with the pipeline makers in February and a route survey has been completed.
Approval is expected in July and construction is scheduled for August, with production restart slated for September.
Once laid, a proactive cleaning programme will be undertaken.
Serica also said Lomond-operator Chrysaor would extend its planned maintenance programme on the platform in summer.
From May 1, work will commence to reduce the backlog of maintenance work and perform inspections and replace and repair key equipment.
Serica chief executive Mitch Flegg said: “While we are disappointed that efforts by the Lomond field operator to clear wax from the Lomond condensate export line have not been successful we are pleased that plans to achieve a permanent solution for this recurring problem are progressing well.
“The operator is taking the opportunity to perform significant extra maintenance work during the planned 2018 Lomond shutdown. This should lead to improved performance later this year and in future years to the long-term benefit of the Erskine field.
“Although this is expected to extend the Erskine shut in to September, there was no certainty that the clearance work would have been successful but would have still incurred additional ongoing cost.
“We have the benefit of a strong balance sheet which enables us to fund our share of the pipeline bypass during this period without Erskine production revenues.”
