Gannet E

Location and Geology

• The Gannet E field is situated approximately 180 km east of Aberdeen, in block numbers 21/25 and 21/30, at a water depth of about 95 meters.
• The field is part of the Gannet complex, which includes several other fields (A, B, C, D, F, and G) and is characterized by high-quality turbiditic sands of Tertiary age (Tay, Rogaland, Forties, Lista, and Andrew Formations).

Ownership and Operator

• Initially, the Gannet E field was jointly owned by Shell and Esso (now ExxonMobil), with Shell as the operator. However, in September 2018, Tailwind Energy acquired the 100% stake in Gannet E from Shell and ExxonMobil as part of its purchase of the Triton cluster.
• As of 2023, Tailwind Energy is the owner, but it is in the process of being acquired by Serica Energy.

Field Characteristics

• Gannet E is an oil field with relatively thick heavy crude, having an API gravity of approximately 20°.
• The field contains 23 million barrels of oil and has a production rate of up to 14,000 barrels per day at peak production. The field life was initially estimated to be around nine years.

Development and Production

• The field was first developed with three wells connected to the Gannet Alpha platform. First oil was achieved in 1998, about 16 years after the field’s discovery.
• Production halted in 2011 due to a pipeline leak but resumed in 2018 after the installation of a new pipeline to the Triton floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel.
• In 2023, a new development well (GE-04) was completed as part of a two-stage expansion project to boost output. This well is expected to produce at an initial rate exceeding 8,000 barrels of oil per day and is tied into the Triton FPSO.

Infrastructure

• The Gannet E field is connected to the Triton FPSO, which is operated by Dana Petroleum. The field uses a remote electrical submersible pump (ESP), which was the world’s longest tieback of an ESP at the time of its installation.
• The recent development includes the installation of a new production line and manifold to enhance output from the existing wells.

Recent Activities

• In January 2023, Petrofac managed and operated the drilling of the GE-04 well using the Stena Don drilling rig. The well results were above pre-drill expectations, and initial flow rates are expected to be significant.
• Plans are in place to drill a fifth well at the field in the future to further increase production.

Production Restart and Expansion

• After the pipeline leak in 2011, production was restarted in 2018. The field has since seen significant efforts to enhance production, including the use of existing infrastructure and the installation of new pipelines and equipment.

Overall, the Gannet E project is a key part of the Gannet complex, with ongoing efforts to maximize production and extend the field's life through efficient use of existing infrastructure and new development projects.