Marathon solves Brae Field's problems

When Marathon Oil starts production in the South Brae field (North Sea) this summer, it will have set the following milestones: (1) The 13,500-ft reservoir is the deepest developed in the North Sea to date, (2) the topside equipment is the heaviest placed on any North Sea steel jacket, (3) the produced gas contains a large amount of liquefiable hydrocarbons and 35% carbon dioxide (4) the platforms gas-sweetening module is the first ever installed offshore, (5) reservoir temperature (240/sup 0/F) is the highest of any North Sea reservoir developed so far, (6) the entire project is one of the few in the North Sea to be completed on schedule and within the budget proposed 3 years earlier, and (7) the deck modules were virtually 100% complete before being lifted onto the jacket. Some recently drilled wells in the area have found hydrocarbons outside the reach of the platform. One of these areas, designated North Brae, appears to hold a condensate reservoir that shows promise of becoming commercial. Marathon engineers feel a strong possibility that one or more additional platforms will be needed in the area.