UK: Buzzard field still offline after second shutdown this month

The CNOOC Petroleum Europe Limited-operated Buzzard field, located in the UK North Sea, remains shut in a week after its second shutdown this month. 

The Buzzard field was initially shut down in early October for repairs of a defect on topsides pipework.

Following repairs, the field restarted production, but it had to be shut down again on October 16 after an inspection found that the integrity of the repair had been compromised.

At the time, the operator said that normal operations were expected to resume once the repair was complete.

When asked about the status of the field and the repairs, a spokesperson for CNOOC Petroleum Europe Limited told Offshore Energy Today on Wednesday: “The topsides pipework defect is currently being repaired. Normal operations are expected to resume once the repair is complete.”

The Buzzard field is located about 96 kilometers northeast of Aberdeen, in approximately 96 meters of water.

In 2017, CNOOC announced the Buzzard Phase II project. The project was sanctioned in August 2018. It involves the construction of a subsea development approximately five kilometers north-east of the Buzzard platform. This will comprise a 12-slot production and water injection subsea manifold that will be tied back to the existing Buzzard complex. The first oil is expected in 2021.

CNOOC Petroleum Europe Limited is the operating partner of Buzzard (43.21%), with Suncor Energy (29.89%), Chrysaor (21.73%), Dyas Exploration UK Limited (4.70%), and Oranje-Nassau Energie Resources Limited (0.46%) also holding interests in the field and its facilities.

Offshore Energy Today Staff

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