Abstract

The Erskine Field is a high temperature, high pressure (HTHP), gas condensate accumulation located on the western margin of the East Central Graben. The field was discovered in 1981 by the 23/26a-3RE well and subsequently delineated by six appraisal wells. Development approval was granted in 1995 and to date five development wells have been drilled. In December 1997, Erskine Field became the first HTHP field in the UKCS to achieve production. Hydrocarbons are produced from three separate Jurassic reservoirs. In order of decreasing importance, these are: the Late Oxfordian Erskine Sandstone (Puffin Formation), the Middle Jurassic Pentland Reservoir, and the Late Oxfordian Heather Turbidite Reservoir.

The Erskine Sandstone is very fine to fine-grained highly bioturbated, shaley sandstone. The sandstones represent shallow marine progradational sequences, deposited predominantly in the offshore transition zone. Within the majority of the Erskine Sandstone, porosity is high (20-25%) but with relatively poor associated permeability (0.1-10mD). However, the tops of the coarsening upward sequences (E30 and E70 zones) have appreciably better permeability and are thought to be the major conduits for fluid flow. The E30 and E70 zones would not have been identified, had it not been for the extensive coring programme undertaken in the development wells.

The Pentland Reservoir is a regionally extensive sequence of interbedded sandstone, shales, coals and siltstones, deposited in a fluvial-lacustrine environment in a delta plain setting. Permeability in the Pentland reservoir (0.1 mD-1 D) is in general far superior to the values observed in the Erskine Sandstone. The main control on the observed variability in porosity and permeability characteristics is grain size, that in turn is controlled by facies.

The Heather Turbidite Reservoir occurs within two thin predominantly fine-grained turbidite sandstone beds in the Heather Shale Formation. This reservoir is restricted to the Alpha Terrace region in the SW of the field, and is drained by a single development well.

Total Erskine Field reserves are estimitated at approx 400 BCF of gas and 66 MMBBL of condensate.