map courtesy Stratic Energy

Canadian North Sea player Stratic Energy Corp. has submitted a £170-million ($333.5-million) plan with UK regulators for the West Don field which involves the “modified and refurbished” floating production facility Northern Producer.

“Initial peak production rates from West Don are expected to be around 25,000 barrels of oil per day,” a Stratic statement Thursday said.

Stratic will combine West Don and the nearby Don Soutwest fields in a development of blocks 211/13b and 211/18a some 150 kilometres northeast of the Shetland Islands, where local waters are some 500 feet deep.

Stratic will own 17 percent of the West Don unit operated by Petrofac Energy Developments Ltd. Though not an oil company, dutyholder Petrofac is akin to an operator on the Norwegian side of the North Sea, with responsibility for health and safety for its extensive facilities management experience.

Partners at West Don aim to uncover 21 million barrels from a Brent sandstone layer akin to the slabs of geology producting oil at Thistle, Penguin and South Magnus.

Two “up-dip, high-angle producers and one down-dip water-injector” well will aid production from a central cluster tied back to the floater.

The Northern Producer will serve the life of the field development under lease and a tarif deal based on “prevailing Brent prices”.

Offshore loading from the floating facility will be by tanker or sub-sea tieback to a nearby platform.

Permissions in the first half of 2008 are expected to be followed up with drilling at West Don in the second-half of the year. First oil is targeted for the second quarter of 2009.

Stratic, with 17 percent, is joined at West Don by First Oil, Nippon and Valiant with near-equal stakes. Petrofac owns 28 percent.

ws@scandoil.com

Tags: First Oil, Nippon, Stratic Energy Corporation, Valiant Petroleum Limited, West Don