The Murdoch Gas Field, Block 44/22a, UK Southern North Sea

Abstract

AbstractThe Murdoch Field was discovered in 1984 when gas was tested from the Murdoch Sandstone of the Westphalian B, Carboniferous in well 44/22-1. The field lies along an elongate NW-SE trending faulted ridge, clearly evident at Top Base Permian structural level. Six exploration and appraisal wells were drilled on the structure prior to commencing a joint development in 1992 with the adjacent Caister Field. The reservoir unit, the Murdoch Sandstone, is interpreted as a low sinuosity fluvial complex of lower Westphalian B age. It is around 120' thick and was deposited by a large NE-SW flowing braided river system in which channels stacked and amalgamated to form the sand package. Production commenced at the beginning of October 1993 making it the first Carboniferous development in the UK North Sea. The maximum deliverabihty of the field is currently about 180MMSCFD from six of the eight producers. Developed with a not-normally-manned platform facility, the gas is delivered to the Theddlethorpe Gas Terminal. Heterogeneity in reservoir quality combined with complex structural compartmentalization are the key control mechanisms on gas production in the Murdoch Field.