Jade Field Start-Up Delayed

Phillips Petroleum

Phillips Petroleum has delayed the start-up of the Jade Field in the UK North Sea until late February. It will start up by the end of this month. Jade is operating in high pressure, high temperature and the company wants to make sure everything is absolutely right.

The start-up of the new field has been delayed several times with the last startup date fixed for end January. The original date was October before it was postponed to December.

The field, which will produce mainly gas, would see oil production plateau at around 16,000 barrels per day once operating at full capacity in late 2002. Gas production will hit 188 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (5.3 million cubic meters per day.

Gas is to be transported via the Judy field and the CATS pipeline to the Teesside terminal, with oil going through the Norpipe system to Phillips' Teesside Seal Sands terminal.

The crude oil will be co-mingled with the main North Sea light sweet Ekofisk grade and be sold as part of the Ekofisk Blend. The Jade field is located in Block 30/2c of the UK North Sea in 250 feet of water. The field was discovered in 1996 and confirmed by an appraisal well in early 1997. It has gas reserves totaling 380 billion cubic feet and about 30 million barrels of crude oil.

Phillips is operator of the field and holds a 32.5 percent interest with BG International holding 35 percent, ChevronTexaco 19.93 percent, Agip 7.0 percent and OMV 5.57 percent.


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