Auk oilfield
Encyclopedia
The Auk Oilfield is situated 249 kilometres (154.7 mi) east, southeast of Aberdeen
, Scotland
, in block number 30/16. It was operated by Royal Dutch Shell
until October 2006 when it was bought by Talisman Energy, and is now licensed by Talisman Energy
. It was discovered in February 1971 in a water depth of 82 metres. Estimated ultimate recovery is 88.5 Moilbbl of oil.
The field is named after the Auk
a family of sea birds. There is a legend that it was to be called A UK, as the first British oilfield, until somebody realised that the sixth field would be called F UK and Shell's policy was rapidly changed to name their fields after sea birds. Shells sixth UK oilfield is called Fulmar.
The oil reservoir is located at a depth of 2316 metres (7,598.4 ft).
Production started in December 1975 from the Auk 'A' platform. This platform is a steel, 8 legged jacket designed by Shell Oil and constructed at Methil
, Fife
, Scotland
. This jacket weighs 3,414 tonnes and support a topside weight of around 8,000 tonnes.
The topsides facilities included capability to drill, produce meter and pump oil. Initially production was to an ELSBM and then to the Fulmar Alpha platform in August 1986.
Associated gas from the reservoir was separated and used to power electrical generation with the excess being flared.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, in block number 30/16. It was operated by Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
until October 2006 when it was bought by Talisman Energy, and is now licensed by Talisman Energy
Talisman Energy
Talisman Energy Inc. is one of Canada's largest petroleum SB companies. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Talisman Energy has operations around the globe including: Canada and the United States of America in North America; Colombia and Peru in South America; Algeria in North Africa; United Kingdom,...
. It was discovered in February 1971 in a water depth of 82 metres. Estimated ultimate recovery is 88.5 Moilbbl of oil.
The field is named after the Auk
Auk
An auk is a bird of the family Alcidae in the order Charadriiformes. Auks are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, their upright posture and some of their habits...
a family of sea birds. There is a legend that it was to be called A UK, as the first British oilfield, until somebody realised that the sixth field would be called F UK and Shell's policy was rapidly changed to name their fields after sea birds. Shells sixth UK oilfield is called Fulmar.
The oil reservoir is located at a depth of 2316 metres (7,598.4 ft).
Production started in December 1975 from the Auk 'A' platform. This platform is a steel, 8 legged jacket designed by Shell Oil and constructed at Methil
Methil
Methil is an eastern coastal town in Scotland. It was part of the former Burgh of Buckhaven and Methil. It lies within a continuous urban area described as Levenmouth.Methil lies geographically between Largo bay to the east and Wemyss Bay to the west....
, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. This jacket weighs 3,414 tonnes and support a topside weight of around 8,000 tonnes.
The topsides facilities included capability to drill, produce meter and pump oil. Initially production was to an ELSBM and then to the Fulmar Alpha platform in August 1986.
Associated gas from the reservoir was separated and used to power electrical generation with the excess being flared.
See also
- Energy policy of the United KingdomEnergy policy of the United KingdomThe current energy policy of the United Kingdom is set out in the Energy White Paper of May 2007 and Low Carbon Transition Plan of July 2009, building on previous work including the 2003 Energy White Paper and the Energy Review Report in 2006...
- Energy use and conservation in the United KingdomEnergy use and conservation in the United KingdomEnergy use in the United Kingdom stood at 3,894.6 kilogrammes of oil equivalent per capita in 2005 compared to a world average of 1,778.0. In 2008, total energy consumed was 9.85 exajoules - around 2% of the estimated 474 EJ worldwide total...