Apache announced that the third well in its 50%-owned Bacchus field in the UK North Sea has ramped up field production past 17,600 barrels of oil per day (bopd).
The Bacchus B-1 well, which has begun production in July, is now producing at 9,400bopd.
A 2,057ft net oil pay was logged along a horizontal completion segment in high quality Jurassic-aged Fulmar sandstone in the field’s western fault block.
Bacchus produces oil through a subsea tie-back to Apache’s Forties Alpha platform.
Success at Bacchus encouraged Apache to extend its current Forties 3D seismic survey area to cover other Jurassic development and exploration targets in its licenses in the Bacchus area, while the seismic survey is due for completion in September.
Since 2009, Apache placed three new fields Bacchus, Maule and Tonto on production in the Forties area.
All three developments have qualified under UK’s small field allowance system, which offers incentives for bringing these discoveries into production.
Apache North Sea region vice-president and managing director James L. House said, "Utilizing existing infrastructure within the Forties Field area enables Apache to bring these smaller discoveries on production in a cost-effective manner for the benefit of all stakeholders."
"A little more than a year after first production, Bacchus has produced 3 million barrels of oil and has already paid out," House added.