VIP:1级
Location: UK sector of the North Sea, some 140 miles NE of Aberdeen, Scotland
Value: Undisclosed 
Reserves: 68 MMBBL (estimated)
Annul production: 35 000 BOPD 
Water depth: 145 metres
Discovery: 1975
Production start-up: November 1986
The Balmoral field (Block 16/21) is located in the UK sector of the North Sea, some 140 miles NE of Aberdeen in a water depth of 145 metres. The field was discovered in 1975 and development drilling began in 1984 with production commencing in November 1986. The Balmoral facilities comprise the world's first purpose built floating production vessel (FPV) moored over a large subsea template accommodating ten subsea production wells, three manifolds and major components of the electrohydraulic control system. The FPV and template are connected by a system of flexible risers and a dynamic riser control umbilical. Ten template productions and nine satellite wells (three production, six water injection) tied back to the template were included in the initial project. At the time of commissioning, Balmoral was one of the largest subsea complexes in the North sea. Since then, three further Sun operated satellite developments have been linked into the Balmoral facilities Glamis (1989), Blair (1989) and Stirling (1993). Although Blair is now abandoned, the complex as a whole has included seventeen production and seven water injection wells. The inbuilt flexibility in the original Balmoral topside and subsea facilities has enabled these other fields to be included with relative ease and potential still exists for future tie-ins. Recoverable reserves are estimated to be 68 MMBBL of under-saturated 39.9° API oil, and annual production remains at the 35 000 BOPD plateau rate.
Operator:
Premier Oil
Contractors:
M² Subsea: Inspection services for the floating production vessel (FPV)