Back in action: at Buzzard
Players turn on North Sea taps
Operators in the UK North Sea have started turning the taps back on from North Sea fields after the restart of the Forties pipeline and expect to reach full rates later today.
The closure of the Forties pipeline due to a strike at the Grangemouth refinery had shut in about half the UK's North Sea oil production and a substantial amount of gas output.
The Total-operated Elgin-Franklin gas field restarted at midnight after the reopening of the Forties pipeline and will return to full production later today..
The field produces between 12 million and 14 million cubic metres per day of gas and a small amount of condensates.
Meanwhile, Nexen said: "Production is ramping up in accordance with directions provided by the pipeline operator and we are awaiting clearance to increase production rates."
Nexen produces oil from the Buzzard and Scott-Telford fields.
The Britannia gas field, which produces about 12.8 MMcmd, was expected to resume full production late last night.
BP said oil flows through the Forties pipeline were increasing today and would soon return to normal levels.
The pipeline carries an average of 700,000 barrels per day, which is about half the UK's North Sea output.