Recommencement of Production from Erskine

RNS Number : 5874F

Serica Energy plc

29 July 2016

 

Serica Energy plc ("Serica" or the "Company")

Recommencement of Production from Erskine 

London, 29 July 2016 - Serica Energy plc (AIM: SQZ) provides the following operations update:

Serica is pleased to announce that oil and gas production from the Erskine field has recommenced following the clearance of a pipeline blockage and the completion of scheduled maintenance works on the Lomond platform. 

The pipeline blockage, which occurred earlier this year in the Lomond to Everest condensate export line, was caused when a foam cleaning device known as a pig became lodged in the pipeline due to a build-up of wax.  Successful clearance procedures included pressure pulsing using diesel from both ends of the pipeline and latterly the injection of a wax solvent. The field then remained shut-in to accommodate a planned two month maintenance programme on the Lomond platform, which commenced in late May to coincide with the planned one month shut down for maintenance of the CATS gas export and processing facilities through which Erskine gas is exported.

On completion of these maintenance programmes condensate flow from the Lomond field started in mid-July in order to flush the export line, with higher volume Erskine production re-commencing from late on the 27^th July. Following a short period for final clean-up during the first week of August, production from Erskine is projected to build-up rapidly to the fully unconstrained levels achieved prior to the shut-down.

As part of the ongoing operations designed to improve production efficiencies and ensure continuous export availability, an increased programme of regular pigging and wax inhibitor injection is to be implemented in order to prevent a re-occurrence of wax build-up once full production has been re-established.  The scheduled pigging operations will also enable a full integrity survey of export infrastructure to be completed to determine the potential to extend infrastructure operating life.

Tony Craven Walker, Serica's Chairman commented:

"Since Serica acquired its interest in the Erskine field in June 2015, it has made a significant contribution to cashflow and profits. This has equipped us to withstand issues such as this shutdown.  Now that production has resumed we expect this strong performance to continue as we seek to add further interests to increase shareholder value at a time of low oil and gas prices."

Technical Information

The technical information contained in the announcement has been reviewed and approved by Clara Altobell, Head of Operations at Serica Energy plc. Clara Altobell (MSc in Petroleum Engineering from Imperial College, London) has 20 years of experience in oil & gas exploration, production and development and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain (PESGB).

Regulatory

This announcement is inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation 596/2014.

Enquiries: Serica Energy plc
Tony Craven Walker	[e-mail]	[phone]
Peel Hunt
Richard Crichton	[e-mail]	[phone]
Ross Allister	[e-mail]	[phone]
Instinctif
David Simonson George Yeomans	[e-mail] [e-mail]	[phone] [phone]

NOTES TO EDITORS

Serica Energy is an oil and gas exploration and production company with exploration, development and production assets in the UK and exploration interests in the Atlantic margins offshore Ireland and West Africa. The Company is in partnership with other companies in its licences offshore UK, Ireland, Morocco and Namibia. Further information on the Company can be found at www.serica-energy.com.

The Company is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker SQZ and is a designated foreign issuer on the TSX. To receive Company news releases via email, please contact [e-mail] and specify "Serica press releases" in the subject line.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This disclosure contains certain forward looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Serica Energy plc's control, including: geological, geophysical and technical risk, the impact of general economic conditions where Serica Energy plc operates, industry conditions, changes in laws and regulations including the adoption of new environmental laws and regulations and changes in how they are interpreted and enforced, increased competition, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, fluctuations in foreign exchange or interest rates, stock market volatility and market valuations of companies with respect to announced transactions and the final valuations thereof, and obtaining required approvals of regulatory authorities. Serica Energy plc's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward looking statements will transpire or occur or, if any of them do so, what benefits, including the amount of proceeds, that Serica Energy plc will derive therefrom.

 

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