North Sea-focused oil and gas company Ithaca Energy said yesterday it had begun production at the Jacky field and restarted its Beatrice Bravo platform, with initial output from both in line with estimates.
The Canadian firm said it expected to produce an average of 10,000 barrels of oil per day from Jacky and the Beatrice field during 2009.
Chief executive and Aberdeen University graduate Iain McKendrick added: “This is a very significant milestone for the company.
“Ithaca can now look forward to substantial cash flows from its producing fields, which will then feed through to development activity at the recently discovered Carna gas field.”
The company will carry out further appraisal activity at its Stella field in the central North Sea later this year and expects to drill a further well or wells after evaluating the performance of Jacky, which has estimated proven and probable reserves of some 5.1million barrels.
Ithaca owns just over 67% of Jacky, with Dyas UK holding around 22.7% and North Sea Energy (UK) holding the remaining stake.
Jacky, which is about 12 miles from the Moray Firth coastline and six miles from the Beatrice oil field, was discovered in April 2007.
Aberdeen-based Wood Group is dutyholder for Jacky and Beatrice. Les Thomas, group director responsible for production facilities, said: “Wood Group is delighted at the achievement of first oil and the resumption of production. It builds upon our strengths as dutyholder and is a significant milestone in our relationship with Ithaca.”
Production from Beatrice Bravo was stopped by former field owner Talisman about two years ago because of pipeline integrity issues.
Ithaca has replaced and upgraded the pipeline, with its eye on improved oil recovery from the northern end of its 74.75%-owned Beatrice field. The other Beatrice partner is Dyas, with a 25.25% stake.