i3 Energy closing in on Liberator field development plan

Following completion of site surveys, oil & gas company i3 Energy plans to submit a development plan for the Liberator field in the UK North Sea to the authorities in the coming months. 

Located in License P.1987, Block 13/23d, Liberator was discovered by Dana Petroleum in November 2013 with well 13/23d-8. i3 Energy has a 100% operated interest in the license. The field is immediately adjacent to the Blake field and only 2 km from Blake’s producing drill center.

The company reported on Friday that all site survey and pipeline route sampling operations at Liberator field have been completed on time and within budget.

The MV Poseidon, operated by MG3, conducted site surveys across two areas close to the Liberator field, identified by i3 as development drill centers for expected future production operations. The survey acquired seismic, sonar, soils strengths and environmental sample data to assess drilling hazards and provide accurate soils data for construction activities on the field and associated in-field pipeline route.

Part of the data was collected over the neighboring Blake field production manifold under agreements and cooperation with the Blake field operator, Repsol Sinopec Resources UK Limited, and its field partner Idemitsu UK.

i3 Energy said that this detailed site information will be used in preparation of the Environmental Statement required for final Field Development Plan (FDP) submission and consideration for approval by the UK Oil & Gas Authority and to assist in the designing of the two development wells and associated tie-ins to be installed on the field. The company added it anticipates the publication of the Environmental Statement for the Liberator development for public consultation shortly and is focused on submitting its FDP in the coming months.

John Woods, i3’sChief Development Officer, commented “I’m delighted that i3’s first North Sea operation has been completed safely and successfully. This information will allow i3 to proceed with its Field Development Planning for the Liberator development. i3 has worked closely with our well engineering contractor, Petrofac, to secure this element of the field development activity to ensure readiness for the next operational stage of the project. We remain on track for drilling operations and the subsea tie-in activities in 2018.”