Dana Petroleum last night said 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.
It was developed using tri-lateral well technology, a first for the operator and the Dutch offshore industry, Dana said.
A further 2,000boepd is expected from the nearby Van Nes well, due to come online in April.
The 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 a number of new developments in the country. Dana said it had plans to bring three more discoveries in the development area online by next year.