UK York field restarts for second phase

Spirit Energy's wholly-owned York gas field has been given another three years of productive life following a successful reworking project, the operator said April 20.

The southern UK North Sea field achieved first gas from the recent campaign April 18. The project was sanctioned by Spirit in May 2020. The work is expected to add another 18bn ft³ to the 45bn ft³ already produced. Spirit Energy said it was "good to see York producing safely again after a short pause for the life extension project.”

Some 34 km from the Yorkshire coast, York started production in 2013 and was planned to produce until 2020. Now, production is extended until 2023-24, Spirit said. 

The life extension work comprised activities both onshore and offshore, including re-routing York gas to the Dimlington gas terminal, along the coast from the Easington terminal.

Spirit said: “Access to low pressure compression at Dimlington brings a new chapter to the York field, giving a minimum of three years' extension to its producing life. There is some non-first gas related work remaining on the project, including a well intervention to further optimise production, which is scheduled to be completed later in the year.”

Spirit, a joint venture majority owned by utility Centrica, said the project was "a testament to how value can be realised with a commitment to collaboration and the industry’s and regulator’s shared objective of delivering maximised economic recovery for the UK.”