The V-Fields, Blocks 49/16, 49/21/, 48/20a, 48/25b, UK North Sea

Abstract

Abstract The Vulcan, Vanguard, North and South Valiant gas fields are collectively known as the V-Fields and lie on the eastern flank of the Sole Pit Basin in the southern sector of the UK North Sea. They are contained within blocks 49/16, 49/21, 48/20a and 48/25b and are operated by Conoco (UK) Ltd. The first field to be discovered was South Valiant, in 1970, and the initial phase of exploration drilling continued until 1983, with the discovery of the North Valiant, Vanguard and Vulcan fields. Prominent faults and dip closures define the limits of the fields and gas is contained within aeolian sands of Early Permian age. The gross average reservoir thickness is approximately 900 ft with porosities ranging from 3-23% and permeabilities varying from 0.1 mD to 2 Darcies in producing zones. The development of the V-Fields consisted of drilling centrally located production wells in each field, targeting higher quality reservoir zones in areas of maximum structural relief. Initial gas-in-place is estimated at 2.6 TCF with recoverable reserves of about 1.6 TCF. The fields were brought on-stream in October 1988 and currently produce, as of November 1999, up to 260MMSCFD of gas through the LOGGS complex to the Conoco terminal at Theedle-thorpe, Lincolnshire.