Serica Energy, a British independent upstream oil and gas company with operations centred on the UK North Sea and over 85% gas production, provides the following operations update.

Mitch Flegg, Chief Executive of Serica Energy, commented:
"I am delighted with the significant progress that Serica has continued to make during 2022. The impact of the substantial investment programmes undertaken in the last three years has seen increased production levels providing responsibly sourced gas to the UK domestic market, protecting security of supply, and reducing the UK’s reliance on imports as part of the transition to a lower carbon future. Commodity prices have been exceptionally strong during the period with a resulting positive impact on income.

Serica has no debt, limited decommissioning liabilities and with growing cash reserves is well positioned to continue to invest in further projects and other opportunities to add shareholder value. We have just completed a well intervention campaign on Bruce that has boosted net production by over 3,000 boe/d and provides further evidence of the value in Serica’s assets that can be realised through measured
and expert operatorship.

Operations have also commenced on the North Eigg exploration well with potential for transformational results, while we are now accelerating further well intervention work on Bruce and Keith following the success of the recently completed campaign.”

Bruce Field Well Interventions

Serica’s first ever Light Well Intervention Vessel (“LWIV”) campaign has concluded without any safety incidents or environmental issues. This campaign is part of our ongoing programme to add value and extend the life of our Bruce facilities.

The initial well (Bruce M1) was re-entered for the first time since 1998. After a successful scale removal and water shutoff, a significant reperforation and new perforation campaign was executed and the well returned to production. Production rates from the well have increased from around 400 boe/d before intervention to over 1,800 boe/d in July 2022.

A similar programme was followed on the second well (Bruce M4) and production rates for the well have been increased from around 450 boe/d to over 2,400 boe/d.

The results from these two wells are at the upper end of the range of expectations and it is expected that there will be an uplift to our independently assessed reserves. This programme has increased confidence that further uplift can be achieved from future well interventions. Capital investment in the Bruce and Keith fields qualifies for investment relief under the recently announced Energy Profits Levy.

Plans to perform similar interventions on other Bruce and Keith wells, both subsea and from the platform, are now being accelerated. 

North Eigg

Operations have commenced on the high-impact and potentially transformational North Eigg exploration well. This gas prospect is located close to Serica’s operated fields and infrastructure and is estimated to contain 60mmboe (P50) and potentially over 236 mmboe (P10) of recoverable resources (both unrisked). It shares many geological similarities with the adjacent Rhum field. It is clearly defined on 3D seismic which is interpreted as a structural trap sealed against the East Shetland bounding fault.

The well is being drilled by the Transocean Paul B. Loyd Jr. harsh environment semi-submersible drilling rig with results expected in October 2022.

If successful, the development scheme could be via a tie-back to the nearby Serica operated and 98% owned Bruce facilities. Tying back to Bruce would minimise development emissions, reduce overall carbon intensity of the Bruce facilities and extend infrastructure life.

Columbus

Earlier this month Columbus reached the milestone of having produced one million barrels of oil equivalent gross. Although production rates have been lower than anticipated, the field continues to benefit from strong commodity prices. 

2022 Production

Production performance in 2022 is benefitting from the significant investment in the Rhum R3 well reintervention, the Columbus development project and now the LWIV campaign. Serica’s average net production in July has averaged over 29,150 boe/d and YTD average net production is 26,832 boe/d. Over 85% of our net production is gas.

2022 Full Year production guidance remains unchanged at between 26,000 and 30,000 boe/d. This guidance includes the impact of the planned summer shutdown season when key maintenance will be performed on Serica’s producing assets.

KeyFacts Energy: Serica Energy UK country profile