The Mariner field was discovered in 1981 and Statoil entered the licence as operator in 2007 “with the aim of finally unlocking the resources” says Statoil Executive Vice President Lars Christian Backer.
The field is expected to produce oil for 30 years, with average production of about 55,000 barrels a day for the first three years.
This project requires pioneering technology and will bring hundreds of high-skilled, long-lasting jobs across the country, hundreds of million pounds in additional tax revenues, as well as crucial security to our energy supplies, according to the Economics Director Mike Tholen.
The development project includes a production, drilling and quarters (PDQ) platform based on a steel jacket, with a floating Storage Unit (FSU). Also 140 reservoir targets are planned for Mariner and in total more than 700 full-time and long-term jobs will be created in the Aberdeen area, 200 onshore and 500 offshore, with recruitment starting in early 2013.
Statoil expected the reserves to be more than 250 million barrels of oil. The Mariner field yields heavy oil with an API gravity of around 12 to 14, which requires pioneering technology to extract, the company said.
Some months ago the investment was estimated at £4.3 Bn however recently Statoil announced that the investment would be of around £7 Bn. Statoil is the operator for Mariner with a 65.11% stake. The field is co-owned by Cairn Energy PLC subsidiary Alba Resources Ltd. with a 6% stake, and JX Nippon Exploration and Production (U.K.) Ltd. with a 28.89% stake.
Dates: Recruitment starting in 2013 and start of production due in 2017.
Sources: BBC online, Rigzone and The Times
