The new field was brought on production approximately eight months after the October 2009 discovery. Apache holds a 100% interest.
James House, region vice president and managing director of Apache North Sea, said: “The Maule discovery, which is an Eocene-age reservoir located above the main Forties Paleocene reservoir, was identified by Apache’s North Sea geoscience team using its extensive experience with seismic interpretation in the area. We were able to develop the field quickly via our existing infrastructure within the Forties Field.”
Apache is planning a second well at Maule. The company also said that it will proceed with development of the Bacchus Field, a Jurassic discovery four miles (6.5km) northeast of the Forties Alpha platform. Apache is planning three horizontal subsea wells tied back to Forties Alpha via a pipeline bundle.
Apache owns a 70% working interest at Bacchus, Shell owns 20%, and Endeavour owns the remaining 10%. First oil is expected in mid-2011.
