Oil & Gas UK Economic Report 2014

Clair – Big Field, Even Bigger Potential One hundred kilometres north east of the Schiehallion and Loyal fields and only 75kms from Shetland’s coast, lies Clair, the largest oilfield in Europe and the focus of one of BP’s largest investments in the UKCS. The Clair field extends over an area of 220 square kms (86 square miles) and total volumes inplace are currently estimated at more than eight billion boe. Clair is a textbook case of technology and economics catching up with the riches of the reservoir. The field was discovered in 1977, but it was only with significant advances

in technology and innovative engineering that the first phase of development was made possible. Enhanced seismic imaging, horizontal wells and other key technologies, enabled development from BP’s first fixed platformWoS. In less than nine years from first production in 2005, the field has produced around 80 million barrels of oil. The second phase of development is the £4.5 billion Clair Ridge project, which was confirmed in late 2011 and will see two new bridge-linked platforms installed and new pipeline infrastructure that will connect the

An artist’s impression of the new Clair Ridge platforms. Source: BP

68

ECONOMIC REPORT 2014