Canadian oil exploration firm Sterling says it expects production from the Breagh North Sea field to be lower than forecast following completion of the latest development well on the site.
Drilling has finished on the A05 well at the RWE Dea-operated field, in the Southern North Sea, after reaching a total depth of 12,810 ft.
The well, 2.5km north east of the Breagh Alpha platform, has been tested at a maximum rate of 21million cubic feet per day, and, with the completed nearby A04 well, the combined output from the pair is set to fall 45million standard cubic feet a day short of predictions.
Average production rate for the field is now expected to be around 102MMscf/d for the rest of the year, 68MMscf/d short of the previous forecast for 2013. The company warned total production in 2014 is set to be around 112MMscf/d – 42million short of predictions.
“We are pleased to be able to put another two development wells into service with a combined total of 45 MMscf/d of production,” said Sterling chief operating officer John Rapach
“However, the A05 production rate is somewhat lower than expected, as our petrophysical analysis suggests that the well had encountered the best sands yet found across the field.
“RWE Dea as operator of Breagh is evaluating the data and may recommend remedial actions which could be conducted in early 2014.”
First gas from phase one of the project has already been delayed due to leaks at the Teeside processing plant which will handle supplies from the field.
Last month, Sterling and RWE Dea were given until the end of the year to develop their revised plans for phase two of the field, following ‘encouraging’ exploration work.
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