The fields started producing in 1998, from five drill centres and through the Schiehallion Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.
After 15 years of operating in harsh conditions and producing nearly 400 million barrels of oil, the original FPSO required replacement to enable continued production from the field.
In addition, technological advances increased understanding of the field and BP believes the greater Schiehallion area holds a further 450 million barrels of oil.
Field production was suspended at the start of 2013 and, in a unique operation in mid-2014, the Schiehallion FPSO was safely disconnected from field before her sale to a new owner. The offshore removal and onshore disposal phase of BP’s Schiehallion and Loyal decommissioning project received regulatory approval in June 2013.
Public consultation on the decommissioning of the Schiehallion and Loyal fields was completed in February 2013.
Name: Stephen Christie
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Email: stephen.christie@uk.bp.com