Braemar

Location

The Braemar oil field is located in the northern North Sea, approximately 280 km northeast of Aberdeen, UK. It is situated within UK Block 16/3c.

Water Depth and Geographical Context

The field is at a water depth of approximately 120 meters. It is also near the Braemar Pockmarks, a series of seabed depressions located about 240 km east of the Orkney Islands, although the pockmarks themselves are not directly part of the oil field but are in the same general area.

Production History

• The Braemar subsea installation commenced production in September 2003. It is tied back to the East Brae platform.

Field Characteristics

• The Braemar field produces gas and condensate.
• The field is part of the broader Brae Area, which includes other installations such as the East Brae platform and several pipelines.

Infrastructure

• The Braemar field is connected to the East Brae platform, which has modular topsides with a weight of 20,000 tonnes and a steel jacket/sub-structure. The topsides and the subsea installation are part of the decommissioning programme.

Operators and Stakeholders

• The primary operators and stakeholders include RockRose UKCS8 LLC, which holds a 26% interest, and TAQA Bratani Limited, which holds a 62% interest. Other stakeholders include Spirit Energy Resources Limited and others listed in the decommissioning programme.

Decommissioning

• Production from the East Brae and Braemar fields is expected to become sub-economical, leading to the decision to cease production. RockRose UKCS8 LLC and other stakeholders have evaluated other hydrocarbon opportunities but found them unviable. The decommissioning programme for the East Brae topsides and the Braemar subsea installation is currently underway.

Environmental Considerations

• The area around the Braemar field, particularly the Braemar Pockmarks, is of significant environmental interest due to the presence of methane-derived authigenic carbonate (MDAC) and unique microbial communities associated with gas seepage. These features support specialist organisms and marine fauna.

Current Status

• Given the impending decommissioning, the focus is on safely dismantling the installations and restoring the site. The decommissioning programme includes detailed plans for the removal of the topsides, subsea installations, and associated pipelines.