Kinnoull is the firm’s major upstream project start-up this year, which has been developed as a part of rejuvenation of the Andrew field area.
Located 230km to the east of Aberdeen, the project involved the installation of a new subsea system along with a 700t topside processing module in the Andrew platform.
The field has now started production via the 28km subsea pipeline, which is claimed to be the longest in the world.
Further processing and onward export of oil is done through the Forties pipeline system, while gas is transported via CATS pipeline system.
Andrew and Kinnoull are expected to have daily production of more than 50,000 barrels of oil, BP said.
BP’s North Sea business regional president Trevor Garlick said: "50 years after BP was awarded its first licences in the North Sea, the successful start-up of Kinnoull demonstrates our continued commitment to maximising recovery from the basin.
"The combination of brownfield and greenfield development work – carrying out material upgrades, improving the reliability of existing facilities and retrofitting new facilities onto an existing platform – added significantly to the complexity of this project. In successfully delivering it, we have completed one of the most challenging offshore projects BP has undertaken in the North Sea."
UK Energy Minister Matthew Hancock said: "The Kinnoull project is a great example of the continued commitment shown by the government and the offshore industry to make the most of the North Sea’s remaining resources. Working together we are maximising the potential of our domestic oil and gas reserves, securing both jobs and energy supplies."
Image: BP’s Andrew platform in the North Sea. Photo: courtesy of BP p.l.c.
