Green light for Catcher area field development plan

The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has approved the field development plan (FDP) for the Catcher area in the central North Sea. Premier Oil is operator, holding a 50% working interest, partnered by Cairn (30%) and Mol Group (20%). Catcher is expected to produce 96mn boe, with a peak production rate of around 50,000 b/d of oil.

The project will entail the drilling of 22 subsea wells (14 producers and eight water injectors) on the Catcher, Varadero and Burgman fields which will be tied back to a leased FPSO. The oil will be offloaded by tankers while the gas will be exported through the SEGAL facilities.

First oil is targeted for mid-2017.