Premier Oil said its Solan project is on track to produce its first oil by the end of the year off the west coast of Shetland. The company said it was also ready for first oil from the Catcher project in 2017 as it posted its results for the first 10 months of the year. The progress of the Solan field will be “subject to weather” in the UK North Sea.
Premier Oil has cut its operating costs by 30% as a challenging marketplace sees its turnover slide. The firm reported total revenues for the first half of the year topped out at $580million – down from last year’s $885million. The dip triggered Premier to cut its operating costs by 30% - down to $150million. The company credited the sale of the “high cost Scott area in the UK” for the part of the savings.
Integrated subsea services firm Harkand said yesterday it has adapted a support vessel to keep busy against the backdrop of the oil and gas industry downturn. The Spearfish craft has been switched from the Gulf of Mexico to the North Sea and fitted with a hydraulic gangway that provides workers with safe access to platforms. The vessel, which is on long-term charter Norway’s Siem Offshore, normally supports subsea construction projects, but is now supporting Premier Oil’s commissioning work on the £960million Solan project west of Shetland.