DANA Petroleum said last night first oil had been achieved on the Van Ghent well on the Dutch continental shelf yesterday.
Production, estimated at about 2,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) net to 50%-owner Dana, will be via the De Ruyter platform, operated by the Aberdeen-based firm.
Dana said it had been developed using tri-lateral well technology, a first for the operator and the Dutch offshore industry. A further 2,000boepd is expected from the nearby Van Nes well, due to come on stream in April.
The Aberdeen firm, acquired by Korean national oil group KNOC late in 2010, has also started production on the Matr-1SXT onshore well in Egypt.
Dana said this would be the first of several new developments in the country. Dana said it had plans to bring three more discoveries in the development area on stream by next year.
Aberdeen-based oil and gas explorer Faroe Petroleum said yesterday drilling operations had started on the Kalvklumpen prospect in the Norwegian North Sea. The 20%-owner in Kalvklumpen said operator and 40%-owner Det Norske was carrying out the drilling using the Songa Delta rig.