Dart Energy provided an update on the Airth Project at PEDL 133, Scotland, following conclusion of a three month production test of the Airth 12 well:
Dart considers that the production test has been successful, in that it has validated a number of key assumptions that underpin the longer-term development plans for the Airth Project:
The production test is now complete, and gas production at Airth 12 is being curtailed in order to preserve gas for ultimate commercial production, and to minimise the need to flare produced gas. Pending further field development, including installation of compression facilities, Dart intends to continue to flow gas from the Airth 12 well for on-site electricity generation, at the capacity of the local grid which is approximately 100,000 scf/d.
Once final regulatory approvals are received further field development and compression facilities will enable delivery and sale of produced gas into nearby pipeline infrastructure – Dart has a gas sales agreement (GSA) in place with SSE, the UK’s second largest utility, to supply up to 60Bcf of CBM produced gas over an 8 year period, commencing from 2013.
Dart Energy International CEO, John McGoldrick , said: “We have invested significant capital in this area and are proud to be the first company to generate electricity from CBM natural gas in Scotland. During our Airth 12 well production test we have achieved sustainable and continuous flow-rates, significantly higher than any other CBM well production in Europe. This test has provided us with continued confidence as we move forward in developing the PEDL133 project. In particular, test results indicate that flow-rates per well of one million scf/d are attainable, without the need for any ‘fraccing”, validating the high margin potential of CBM development. We see our production test results as being good news for the further development of CBM resource in the UK and, more broadly, in mainland Europe”.
[mappress] LNG World News Staff, January 21, 2013; Image: Dart Energy