The company said that the commissioning tests continue and the well is not yet operating at full choke.

The Topaz gas field ties back to the Schooner platform (Tullow) via 15 kms of newly laid 6-inch diameter pipeline. Gas is then transported onward to the Caister Murdoch System (ConocoPhillips) and Theddlethorpe Gas Terminal in the UK.

Rene Pawel, managing director of RWE Dea UK, said: “We are delighted to have achieved first gas production from Topaz which was discovered in 1987. Our development team has worked closely with the Department for Energy and Climate Change, joint venture partners GDF Suez E&P UK and Faroe Petroleum, host operators and many contractors in successfully achieving this milestone.”

RWE Dea plans to further increase gas production from the UK Continental Shelf and will continue its investment programme which so far has led to a production level of over 70mmscf/d of equity gas for RWE Dea UK.