Heavy oil explorer Xcite said yesterday it had agreed a deal for use of a shuttle tanker to store and take away oil from its North Sea Bentley field.
The firm also said it had agreed a contract with construction firm Ocean Installer for the installation of the oil export pipeline of 1.1 miles between the Rowan Norway and the shuttle tanker. It will be Ocean Installer’s first mobilisation in the UK North Sea. The firm, founded last year by a team of former Subsea 7 staff, will be using Reef Subsea’s Polar Prince, on charter to Ocean Installer and yesterday being prepared in Peterhead ahead of being due to go offshore today or tomorrow, weather permitting.
As part of its announcement, Xcite also said drilling on Bentley using the Rowan Norway jack-up rig had reached total depth of 668ft.
The shuttle tanker contract is with Teekay Navion Offshore Loading for use of its Scott Spirit vessel during the first phase of development – an extended well test.