Auk

Auk Conventional Oil Field Profile

Location and Geology

• The Auk conventional oil field is located in the Central North Sea, UK, specifically in blocks 30/16n and 30/16t.
• It is situated in shallow water, with a depth of approximately 85 meters (280 feet).

Ownership and Operation

• The Auk field is owned by China Petrochemical and Repsol Resources UK Ltd (formerly Repsol Sinopec Resources UK Ltd).
• Repsol Resources UK is the operator of the field and is headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Production History

• The Auk field has been producing oil since 1975 from an integrated drilling, production, and living quarters platform.
• Peak production was achieved in 1977, and as of the latest data, the field has recovered 97.82% of its total recoverable reserves.
• Production is expected to continue until the field reaches its economic limit in 2028, based on economic assumptions.

Infrastructure

• The Auk field operates from an integrated drilling, production, and living quarters platform.
• Oil from the Auk field is exported through a 12 km, 8-inch export pipeline to the Fulmar Alpha platform, which serves as a hub for several other fields including Auk, Clyde, and Halley.
• The oil is then combined with other imports within the oil export module (OEM) at Fulmar Alpha and exported via a subsea pipeline to the ConocoPhillips operated Norpipe system for onward processing at Teesside.

Decommissioning Plans

• Although the Auk field is still in production, decommissioning plans are being considered as part of the broader Fulmar and Auk North decommissioning program.
• The decommissioning of the Auk field infrastructure will be addressed in future environmental assessments and decommissioning proposals once production ceases.

Field Integration and Export

• The Auk field is closely integrated with the Fulmar complex, which includes the Fulmar Alpha and Fulmar Advanced Drilling (AD) wellhead platforms. These platforms provide drilling, production, and accommodation facilities.
• The Fulmar platform continues to operate as an export hub for the Auk and other nearby fields until they reach cessation of production or bypass Fulmar.

Environmental and Stakeholder Engagement

• Repsol Sinopec Resources UK Limited has conducted stakeholder engagement sessions, including informal meetings and a Stakeholder Engagement Workshop, to address concerns and inform impact assessments related to the decommissioning of the Auk and Fulmar fields.

Production and Economic Contribution

• While specific current production rates for the Auk field are not provided, the field has been a significant contributor to the UK's oil production since its inception. The nearby Fulmar field, which also serves as an export hub for Auk, produced over 565 million metric barrels of oil during its operational life, significantly contributing to the UK economy.

In summary, the Auk conventional oil field is a mature field in the North Sea, operated by Repsol Resources UK, with a long production history and ongoing operations until its expected cessation in 2028. The field's infrastructure is closely tied to the Fulmar complex, and decommissioning plans are being developed in line with national and international regulations.