Aberdeen-based North Sea oil firm Dana Petroleum took control yesterday of the Triton floating production vessel – the first time it has been in charge of a major offshore installation.
The move follows a deal with Hess earlier this year, in which Dana increased its stake in the central North Sea Bittern field, produced by Triton, by 28.8% to 33%, and agreed to take over operatorship of the vessel.
It is the first time Dana has been in charge of a manned processing facility in the North Sea, having previously been only an operator of subsea tie-backs.
Paul Griffin, Dana’s UK managing director, said: “This is a significant deal for Dana and consolidates our strong position in the central North Sea.
“This underlines our strategy to move from largely non-operated activities to full-operated field management in the UK Continental Shelf.”
The move follows Dana being bought out by the Korean National Oil Company, KNOC, for £1.7billion in late 2010.
It also comes as the firm is looking to use a floating production vessel for its northern North Sea Western Isles development, expected to be given the go-ahead by the Department of Energy and Climate Change by the end of the year.
About 70 people work on Triton, 120 miles east of Aberdeen, at any one time, with about 20 of those from Dana and the rest with contractor Wood Group.
The vessel produces about 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day from the Bittern and Greater Guillemot area fields.
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