A North Sea operator is today announcing a major jobs and investment boost as the Offshore Europe oil show opens in Aberdeen.
Mobil is to carry out fresh drilling at the long-producing Beryl field in the northern North Sea before the end of this year. The development is expected to increase the offshore workforce by over 80 and involve fresh investment of around £120million.
Beryl has been one of the big success stories in North Sea history – the area having produced 1billion barrels of oil and gas in the last 33 years. Current daily production is 25,000 barrels of oil and 100million cubic feet of gas.
A spokesman for Mobil declined to comment on the extent of the new reserves or what effect they would have on daily production at Beryl.
He said production from the new wells was expected to help offset the decline from existing wells.
ExxonMobil North Sea production manager Lee Tillman said: “The decision to recommence drilling has been taken after exhaustive geological, reservoir and drilling studies. The investment in this project reaffirms the Beryl partners’ confidence in the future of the Beryl field.”
Mobil said today that the studies had identified additional drilling opportunities and the latest drilling programme would involve three wells from the Beryl Alpha platform. This installation currently has a workforce of 160, which will be going up to more than 240.
Mobil’s co-venturers in Beryl are Hess, Enterprise Oil and OMV (UK).
Offshore Europe exhibition manager Elaine Hulse said any positive news from the industry was good news for the four-day show.
There were more than 40,000 visitors from around the world at the last OE in Aberdeen two years ago, a figure which could be topped this time around.
“The indications are that this year will be at least as busy or even busier,” Mrs Hulse added.
She also said the stand space taken by the 1,500-plus exhibitors was up by 10% on 2007 – a record figure.
“This is one of the biggest shows of its type in the world – second only to the OTC event in Houston – and everyone seems to be quite upbeat,” added the exhibition manager.
She said the organisers were trying to ease traffic disruption as much as possible around the OE venue at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.
“There are lots of shuttle buses from oil industry offices around the city and from hotels. There is also a new park and ride facility from the Pittodrie football stadium and Aberdeen Beach Boulevard,” added the exhibition manager.
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