24 August 2005
RWE Dea UK receives development go ahead for Cavendish gas field in the UK Southern North Sea
RWE Dea UK Development Ltd today announces that the DTI has agreed the development plan for the Cavendish gas field located in the UK Southern North Sea gas basin.
The Cavendish field is operated by RWE Dea UK (50%), and its partners in the development are GDF Britain Ltd (25%) and Dana Petroleum (E&P) Ltd (25%). First production is expected in the fourth quarter of 2006.
The Cavendish field is predominantly located in Block 43/19a, some 140 km north-east of Easington on the Lincolnshire coast and 180 km north of Bacton on the Norfolk coast. The water depth at the field is approximately 18.5 metres.
The reservoir development strategy employs three production wells. A Minimum Facilities Platform (MFP) will be installed in the field and tied-back to the ConocoPhillips (U.K.) Ltd operated Caister Murdoch System (CMS). Gas production will be transported via the CMS pipeline to the Theddlethorpe Terminal and is estimated to continue until the end of 2016.
Total capital expenditure on the project will be around £124 million, with operating costs expected to be some £2.8 million per year. Major contracts will be awarded to Heerema Vlissingen B.V. (MFP), Micoperi Srl (platform and pipeline installation), and Noble Asset (U.K.) Ltd (drilling).
Christoph Schlichter, Managing Director of RWE Dea UK commented: 'Cavendish is RWE Dea's first operated gas development in the UK. The sanction for the field is a major milestone in our activities in the Southern North Sea. We are proud to have reached this stage and look forward to working with our partners in order to bring Cavendish gas into production in 2006.'
Notes to Editors
The Cavendish Field was discovered in 1989 by well 43/19-1 (Britoil). The well tested gas at rates of 33 MMscfd and 15 MMscfd from the Westphalian "A" and Namurian intervals. Well 43/19-2a (BP) was drilled in 1991 and tested gas at 17 MMscfd from the Westphalian "A" interval. Well 43/19a-4z (Amoco) was drilled in 1996/97 as an appraisal of a possible western extension of Cavendish. The well failed to find hydrocarbons and effectively proved the western limit of the Cavendish accumulation.
Cavendish is a Carboniferous gas accumulation with estimated recoverable sales gas reserves of some 117 BCF (3.31 BCM) under the development scenario with export via the CMS to the Theddlethorpe Gas Terminal (TGT).
Contacts
Head of Corporate Communications
Harald Graeser
Tel.: +49(0)40-63752511
Fax: +49(0)40-63753162
E-Mail: harald.graeser@rwe.com
Press spokesman
Derek Mösche
Tel.: +49(0)40-63752670
Fax: +49(0)40-63753162
E-Mail: derek.moesche@rwe.com
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