UK-based Zennor Petroleum has completed drilling and testing operations at its operated Finlaggan field development in the UK Central North Sea and the semi-submersible drilling rig used for these operations has been demobilized.

Zennor reported a successful completion of drilling and testing operations at the Finlaggan field on Tuesday, May 21.

Through its subsidiary Zennor Pathway, Zennor is currently developing the 100% owned Finlaggan field (block 21/05c and 21/05d, Licence P2013). The company received approval from UK's Oil & Gas Authority to proceed with the Finlaggan field development back in October 2018.

The development project is targeting 30 mmboe of gas condensate reserves from two subsea production wells tied back 20km to ConocoPhillips-operated Britannia platform.

It is worth reminding that ConocoPhillips recently sold its UK business, including the Britannia assets, to Chrysaor. The sale is expected to be completed in the second half of 2019.

According to Zennor's statement on Tuesday, the Finlaggan production wells (F1 and F2) each flowed more than 12,000 boepd, with rates being constrained by the surface facilities. Both wells also produced at significantly higher than expected flowing well head pressures, highlighting the quality of the reservoir sections in the completed wells.

First production in 4Q 2020

Zennor said that the Transocean-owned semi-submersible drilling rig Paul B Loyd Junior had left the Finlaggan location and had been demobilized to Invergordon. The conclusion of these offshore works represents a key step in de-risking the Finlaggan development and delivering first production in 4Q 2020 as planned, Zennor explained.

Zennor also announced that construction work on the 20km subsea pipe-in-pipe system and the electrohydraulic control umbilical is proceeding on schedule for installation in 3Q 2019.

The primary contractor TechnipFMC and its key subcontractors are making excellent progress towards this next major project milestone, Zennor stated. TechnipFMC's scope of work includes the laying of a 10” pipe-in-pipe production flowline and electrohydraulic control umbilical back to Britannia.

Martin Rowe, Zennor's Managing Director, said: “All of our teams continue to work exceptionally hard, alongside our main contractors, to deliver the Finlaggan project safely as planned and their progress and achievements to date talk to their skill and dedication. With the drilling and completion phase behind us we are now fully focused on the summer 2019 subsea installation program which will take us another step closer to realizing first production from Finlaggan next year.”

It is also worth mentioning that Zennor has already executed all major Finlaggan offtake agreements in line with previously agreed commercial terms. These agreements provide for the export of Finlaggan production through the Britannia facilities, the Forties Pipeline System, the SAGE Terminal and the SEGAL System.