Oil major Total has started gas and condensate production from the West Franklin Phase 2 project in the North Sea.
The company said the project, in the Central Graben area, will supply 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day to the Elgin/Franklin hub.
The project includes the drilling of three new production wells and the installation of two new platforms, the West Franklin wellhead platform and the Elgin B platform which will also be used to drill new wells on Elgin.
Michael Borrell, Total’s senior vice president exploration and production in Europe and Central Asia, said: “With the start-up of the West Franklin Phase 2 project, Total consolidates the production capacity of its operated Elgin/Franklin hub.
“The hub holds significant reserves as well as promising exploration opportunities.”
Located approximately 240 km east of Aberdeen, West Franklin was discovered by Total in 2003 and Phase 1 production started in 2007 with two wells drilled from the Franklin platform.
More than 90% of Total’s production in the UK comes from several operated fields located offshore in two major zones: the Alwyn/Dunbar area in the Northern North Sea and the Elgin/Franklin area in the Central Graben.
In 2015, Total will commence production from its new third hub located in the West of Shetland area, with the start-up of the Laggan-Tormore project.
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