Region Shetland basin Offshore/onshore Offshore Operator TAQA Start of production 1989 | Block 210/25a Discovery 1975 Start of development 1985 | |
 | ||
Country Scotland, United Kingdom Estimated oil in place 175 million barrels (~2.39×10^ t) Estimated gas in place 40×10^ cu ft (1.1×10^ m) | ||
The Tern oilfield is an oilfield situated 169 kilometres (105 mi) north east of Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland, in block numbers 210/25a.
Contents
History
The Tern field was discovered in April 1975 in a water depth of 167 metres (548 ft). It started production in 1989. Until July 2008, the oilfield was operated by Royal Dutch Shell and licensed by Shell/Esso. On 7 July 2008, it was purchased by TAQA Bratani, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, along with the Eider, North Cormorant, Cormorant Alpha, Kestrel and Pelican fields and related sub-sea satellite fields.
Reserves and geology
Estimated recovery of Tern oilfield is 175 million barrels (27.8×106 m3) of oil.
Structurally, it is a triangular uplifted block of the Brent Group bounded by NNW-SSE and NNE-SSW trending faults and sealed by overlying Kimmeridge Clay (the dominant source rock, with debated contributions from the much deeper Old Red Sandstone) and Shetland Group mudstones.
Tern oil platform
The Tern oil platform is a steel jacket production and drilling platform. As well as processing the fluids from the Tern reservoir, the platform also processes fluids from the Hudson, Falcon and Kestrel fields. Once processed, the oil is co-mingled and exported to Sullom Voe Terminal via the North Cormorant and Cormorant Alpha platforms by the Brent System pipeline.
The Hudson Field which is located in 210/24, started producing over the platform in 1993. The most recent addition to the Tern platform was the Kestrel Field, located in 211/21a, this small subsea tieback started production in 2001.