Adura now anticipates first oil from Rosebank, Britain's biggest undeveloped oil and gasfield, at some point in 2027 rather than before the end of this year, after drilling equipment fell onto the North Sea seabed in April. The slippage arrives while ministers weigh whether to let the field proceed, and means Rosebank is unlikely to touch UK energy supply over the winter months.
Production at Britain's biggest undeveloped oil and gasfield could be delayed for months after equipment from a rig was accidentally dropped in the North Sea, the Guardian revealed. Adura, the company responsible for Rosebank, now says it anticipates this will happen at some point in 2027 — the field had been believed ready to generate oil before the end of the year, pending ministerial approval.
Two pieces of drilling gear fell 1,100 metres
The incident occurred on 18 April, and no workers were hurt. Two central pieces of drilling equipment, including a safety valve, were dropped 1,100 metres on to the seabed.
Odfjell Drilling, the Norwegian company Adura hired the platform from, said in internal documentation that the rig could be out of action for up to four months. The platform went to a shipyard in Bergen for repairs and is now back at Rosebank but not yet operational; the Guardian understands some oil wells will be completed significantly behind schedule.
Winter supply and the licence decision
Rosebank sits about 80 miles north-west of Shetland and is projected to produce 300m barrels of oil over its 25-year lifespan, according to industry estimates. However, the delays mean production at the field will be unlikely to affect the UK's energy supply over the winter months.
Licences for Rosebank and another site, Jackdaw, were granted under the Conservatives before operations were paused following a court challenge by environmental groups. The new energy secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, is expected to make a decision on the fields' future after consultations regarding their emissions conclude in August. Adura told the BBC earlier this week that Jackdaw, about 150 miles east of Aberdeen, could produce gas as early as October.
Industry and campaigners pull in opposite directions
Andy Burnham's new government is under pressure from the fossil fuel industry to allow oil to be retrieved from Rosebank, despite opposition from climate campaigners and some Labour MPs. Some MPs believe enhanced domestic production of oil and gas would help tackle the cost of living by improving energy security, while green campaigners believe the impact on the UK economy of exploiting the fields would be minimal.
Areeba Hamid, co-executive director of Greenpeace, which challenged the original decision to grant licences, said approval for the fields would make "zero difference" to energy bills and generate few jobs. Odfjell Drilling declined to comment, and Adura did not respond to a request for comment.
Source: The Guardian
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