The Mariner heavy oil field lies within part-block 9/11a of the United Kingdom continental shelf (illustration: Statoil)

Statoil reports that production drilling has started on the Statoil operated Mariner field in the UK North Sea.

Up to five wells will be drilled before the Mariner A platform hook up and commissioning activity starts next summer. First oil is expected to be produced from Mariner in 2018.

Hedda Felin, managing director, Statoil Production UK says, “This is an exciting period for us as a UKCS operator as we transition from the planning phase to active offshore operations.”

“Predrilling enables production to reach plateau levels more quickly after the start of operations on Mariner A. It will also be an important learning period for us in terms of understanding the reservoir and identifying potential efficiencies for future wells, with safety and the protection of the environment being our fundamental priorities.”

The Noble Lloyd Noble, the largest jack-up rig in the world, is currently positioned over the Mariner jacket which was installed in 2015. The first production wells will be drilled through a well deck on the jacket. Up to five wells will be drilled before the platform topside modules arrive mid-2017. In total up to 100 reservoir targets could be drilled over the lifetime of the Mariner field, based on the current development strategy.

Statoil has worked closely with major contractors Noble Drilling and Schlumberger to ensure safe and cost-effective operations. The rig contract was awarded to Noble Drilling in 2013, followed by the contract award for integrated drilling and completion services to Schlumberger in 2014. The pre-drilling campaign will support around 500 jobs in the UKCS.

The Mariner topside modules are currently under construction at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. (DSME) in South Korea and sailaway is expected in the first half of 2017.

Mariner is one of the largest projects currently under development in the UKCS. Contracts worth over GBP 1 billion have been awarded to date to the UK supply chain by the project.

Statoil (U.K.) Limited is the operator of Mariner with 65.11% equity. Co-venturers are J.X. Nippon Exploration & Production (UK) Limited (20 %), Siccar Point Energy (8.89%) and Dyas Mariner Limited (6%).

The Mariner field is located on the East Shetland Platform of the UK North Sea, approximately 95 miles or 150 kilometres east of the Shetland Isles. The heavy oil field has reserves estimated at more than 250 million barrels of oil with an average plateau production of around 55,000 barrels per day.

Tags: Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co, Dyas Mariner Limited, J.X. Nippon Exploration & Production (UK) Limited, Ltd, Noble Drilling, Schlumberger, Siccar Point Energy, Statoil