Finlaggan

Finlaggan Gas Condensate Field Profile

Location and Geology

• The Finlaggan field is located in the Central North Sea, within block 21/5c and partially in block 21/5d, at a water depth of approximately 459 feet.
• The field is situated around 130 miles east of Aberdeen and about 20 miles south of the Britannia platform.

Ownership and Operation

• The Finlaggan field is owned and operated by NEO Energy Group, specifically through its subsidiary Neo Energy Pathway Ltd. NEO Energy acquired the field as part of its takeover of Zennor Petroleum in July 2021, valued at about $625 million.

Field Development

• The development plan involves a subsea manifold and two production wells, which are tied back to the Harbour Energy-operated Britannia platform. This tieback is facilitated by a 10” pipe-in-pipe production flowline and an electrohydraulic control umbilical.
• The subsea construction contract was awarded to TechnipFMC, and the development wells were drilled by Transocean’s Paul B Loyd Junior drilling rig.

Production

• The field began producing gas in October 2021, after being delayed from its initial expected start in late 2020 due to Covid-19 related issues, including delayed maintenance at the Forties Pipeline and Britannia platform.
• Gas from the Finlaggan field is exported to the SAGE system and St Fergus, while liquids are exported to the Forties FPS (Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading) system.

Reserves and Resources

• The Finlaggan field is estimated to hold up to 27 million recoverable barrels of oil equivalent (boe).
• As of the latest data, the field has recovered approximately 32.78% of its total recoverable reserves, with peak production achieved in 2022. Production is expected to continue until the field reaches its economic limit in 2042.

Production Levels and Impact

• The field currently accounts for about 1% of the UK's daily oil and gas output.
• NEO Energy aims to reach a production level of 120,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) by 2023 through mergers and acquisitions, and to maintain a stable production level of 80,000-120,000 boepd in the long term.

Historical Context

• The site was first drilled by ConocoPhillips in 2005. Zennor Petroleum secured a licence in the 27th UK offshore licensing round and proved the field's economic viability with an appraisal well in 2016.
• The field development plan received approval from UK authorities in October 2018 while it was still operated by Zennor Petroleum.

Significance

• The development of the Finlaggan field is crucial for maintaining the UK's energy security, especially given the significant increase in gas prices and the need for homegrown gas supplies.
• The project is seen as vital for the future of the oil and gas industry in the UK, supporting energy communities and ensuring a stable energy supply.