The Staffa Field, Block 3/8b, UK North Sea

The Staffa Field occurs at the crest of an intermediate tilted fault block that is located between the Ninian and Alwyn fields in the northern North Sea. The partnership BP, Lasmo and Ranger discovered the field with well 3/8b-10 in 1985. By 1990, BP had left the partnership while Lasmo and Ranger had received Annex B approval for development. First production from this small field reservoired in sandstones belonging to the Middle Jurassic, Brent Group was obtained in 1992. At sanction, reserves were estimated to be about 5.5 MMBBL together with 26.8 BCF corresponding to a recovery factor of 18%. Field life was expected to be about 7.5 years (to 2000) and the plateau length six months. Although initial production exceeded the planned plateau rate of 8000 BOPD, production ceased in June 1993 when the pipeline to Ninian became blocked with wax or wax hydrates. Remedial solvent treatment failed to remove the blockage and replacement of the blocked section was undertaken. This too became blocked soon after resumption of production and the field was shut-in in November 1994. It was then abandoned, since further replacement of the line was not justified economically. At abandonment the field had produced 3.9 MMBBL of oil, 0.296 MMBBL of NGL and 6.457 BCF of gas Gust 13% of its original STOIIP).