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Geological Society, London, Memoirs; 2003; v. 20; p. 233-250;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.MEM.2003.020.01.20
© 2003 Geological Society of London

Part 4: Viking Graben Fields

The Brent Field, Block 211/29, UK North Sea

S. R. Taylor1, J. Almond1, S. Arnott1, D. Kemshell1 & D. Taylor2

1 Shell UK Exploration & Production, 1 Altens Farm Road, Nigg, Aberdeen AB9 2HY, UK Present address: ONP/1, Petroleum Development Oman, PO Box 81, Muscat 113, Sultanate of Oman steve.taylor{at}pdo.co.com
2 Exxon/Mobil International Ltd, Esso House, 96 Victoria St, London, SW1E 5JW, UK Present address: UPR, Petroleum Development Oman, PO Box 81, Muscat 113, Sultanate of Oman

The Brent Field was the first discovery in the northern part of the North Sea, and is one of the largest hydrocarbon accumulations in the United Kingdom licence area. There are two separate major accumulations: one in the Middle Jurassic (Brent Group reservoir) and one in the Lower Jurassic/Triassic (Statfjord Formation reservoir). The Brent Field lies entirely within UK licence Block 211/29 at latitude 61°N and longitude 2°E; the adjacent Brent South accumulation extends into Block 3/4A. The water depth is 460 ft. The Brent Field discovery well was drilled in 1971, and was followed by six further exploration and appraisal wells. Seismic data over the Brent Field has been acquired in four separate vintages. The latest acquisition in 1995 allowed detailed mapping of the complex eastern margin of the field for the first time

The Brent Field is developed from four fixed platforms (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta) installed between 1975 and 1978. Production commenced in 1976 and, for the first 22 years of field life, the platforms provided production, water injection and gas injection facilities for both the Brent and Statfjord Formation reservoirs. The Brent South accumulation is produced via the Brent Alpha platform, through sub-sea tie-backs and extended reach wells. In 1992, the decision was taken to depressurize the Brent Field to recover an additional 1.5 TSCF of gas and 34 MMSTB of oil, extending the field's life by 5-10 years. In January 1998, water injection into the main field was stopped and depressurization of the field initiated. As of January 2000, a total of 220 platform wells and three sub-sea wells (173 producers, 50 water injectors) have been drilled in the Brent Field.

The original oil/condensate-in-place is currently estimated at 3.8 MMMSTB, and the estimated original wet gas-in-place is 7.5 TSCF. Total ultimate recovery for all reservoirs is expected to be 1988 MMSTB oil and condensate and 6000 BSCF gas. Cumulative oil and net gas production, as of 1st January 2000, was 1875 MMSTB oil and 4196 BSCF gas

This paper summarizes the current understanding of the field based on acquisition of new 3D seismic data, 130 new wells, detailed structural and sedimentological modelling, development of the complex crestal part of the field and finally, the initiation of an extensive brown field re-development project to depressurize the reservoir