RWE Spuds Gas Well in UK North Sea

RWE has kicked off its development of the Clipper South gas field, offshore in the UK North Sea, with the drilling of the first of five development wells planned for the field.

The 48/19a-C1 well was spudded on the 8th of February of this year and is targeting a tight Permian age Rotliegend reservoir at a depth of approximately 8,000 feet, project partner Fairfield Energy has said. The well is the first of five extended horizontal wells planned for the Clipper South gas field, with multiple hydraulically induced fractures planned in each well, Fairfield said.

RWE Dea UK SNS is the operator of the Clipper South Gas field project with a 50 per cent stake. Fairfield holds a 25 per cent stake while Bayerngas UK holds a 25 per cent stake.

Fairfield says it expects first gas to come from the well by the summer of 2012.

"We are delighted to announce the spudding of the first well in the Clipper South development programme," CEO of Fairfield Chris Wright said.

"This represents an important milestone as we move towards first gas and production from Clipper South in the summer.The planned development of the field is an example of how the use of cutting edge technology has the ability to prolong the life of the UKCS (UK Continental Shelf) for many years to come."

The Clipper South gas field is estimated to have reserves of 512 billion cubic feet of gas in place, with gas production planned to move through a new wellhead platform and pipeline which will be connected to the LOGGS offshore complex then on to the Theddlethorpe Gas Terminal in Lincolnshire. The 12” and 3” pipeline connections to the complex  are planned for installation by Technip UK Ltd in April.