OREANDA-NEWS. Total has started gas and condensate production from the West Franklin Phase 2 project in the Central Graben area of the UK North Sea. The project will supply 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) to the Elgin/Franklin hub.

“With the start-up of the West Franklin Phase 2 project, Total consolidates the production capacity of its operated Elgin/Franklin hub. The hub holds significant reserves as well as promising exploration opportunities”, outlined Michael Borrell, Total’s Senior Vice President Exploration & Production, Europe and Central Asia. 

West Franklin Phase 2 will develop reserves of 85 million barrels of oil equivalent. The project includes the drilling of three new production wells and the installation of two new platforms, the West Franklin wellhead platform and the Elgin B platform which will be also used to drill new wells on Elgin. 

Located approximately 240 km east of Aberdeen, West Franklin was discovered by Total in 2003 and Phase 1 production started in 2007 with two wells drilled from the Franklin platform. 

Total operates Elgin/Franklin, including West Franklin, with a 46.2% interest alongside co-venturers Eni (21.9%), BG (14.1%), E.ON (5.2%), ExxonMobil (4.3%), Chevron (3.9%), Summit (2.2%) and Dyas (2.2%).

Total Exploration & Production in the United Kingdom

Total has been present in the United Kingdom since 1962. The Group is one of the country’s leading oil and gas operators, with equity production of 105,000 boe/d in 2013. 

More than 90% of Total’s production in the UK comes from several operated fields located offshore in two major zones: the Alwyn/Dunbar area in the Northern North Sea and the Elgin/Franklin area in the Central Graben. 

In 2015, Total will commence production from its new third hub located in the West of Shetland area, with the start-up of the Laggan-Tormore project.