Canadian energy firm Nexen is to hook up a new platform at its giant Buzzard oilfield in the North Sea earlier than planned.
The work will force a cut of up to 30% in fourth-quarter production from Buzzard, the firm revealed.
Nexen – Canada’s fifth largest oil explorer – said Buzzard output would still be well within its original annual production guidance range of 230,000-280,000 barrels a day, before royalties.
The company said it was advancing the start-up of the field’s fourth platform to October to take advantage of lower costs.
Its work on the largest North Sea oilfield was scheduled for early next year.
Buzzard production is expected to return to full rates before the end of 2010.
Nexen chief executive Marvin Romanow said many people involved in hook-up and commissioning activities would also be involved in start-up for the platform.
He added: “We are making excellent progress readying the fourth platform.
“By moving immediately to the start-up phase, we maximise cost efficiencies and shorten operational disruptions.”
Nexen said the cut in output from Buzzard should not affect its annual production targets, because of increasing output at the Ettrick field in the North Sea and at the Long Lake oil sands project in Alberta.
New shale gas assets are also due to start producing in the final quarter of 2010.
Nexen has a 43.2% operated interest in Buzzard, which lies 60 miles north-east of Aberdeen in the Outer Moray Firth.
The field was the largest UK North Sea find for years when it was discovered in 2001, with production starting at the beginning of 2007.
Buzzard’s oil is exported via the Forties pipeline to the Kinneil terminal, near Grangemouth. Gas from the field comes onshore via the Frigg system to the St Fergus facility, near Peterhead.
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