West Sole - Field History

• Allocation of block 48/6: September 1964
• Discovery:  September 1965
• Signing of Statement of Intent with British Gas:  February 1966
• Construction of platform WA and WB and subsea 16-inch pipeline:  July 1966
• Construction of terminal:  March 1967
• First delivery of North Sea natural gas:  March 1967
• Regular contract deliveries to British Gas begin:  July 1967
• Single-well production platform WE installed: July 1967 Platform WC installed: August 1969
• Hydrocarbon dewpoint installed:  June 1970
• West Sole Supply Agreement: July 1970
• Satellite WAS and drilling of two more wells:  August 1974
• Removal of platform WE:  September 1978
• Announcement of gas compression project:  August 1980
• Completion of 24-inch subsea pipeline from shore to WB:  August 1981
• New Westinghouse telemetry system installed: December 1981
• Drilling of new well: January 1982
• Installation of dehydration units platforms WA and WB: June 1982
• Installation of Gas compressors, power generators and ancillary equipment:  March 1983
• Completion and commissioning of gas compression project: August 1983
• Production reached 1 trillion cubic feet:  March 1984
• Commencement of West Sole modifications project:  Summer 1988
• Completion of West Sole modifications project:  Winter 1989
• Newsham in production:  Spring 1996
• West Sole contract with British Gas terminated:  May 1996

• WA (main) Platform
• Weight at float out (excl. piles): 60 short-tons
• Height of tower section: 38.6m
• Max dimensions of jacket on seabed: 53.3m

• Total number: 14
• Maximum depth: 22m

• Total deck loading: 2,000 short-tons
• Dimensions: 62.3m x 21.3m
• Height of deck above lowest sea level:  23.7m

• Height from seabed to helideck: 60.4m
• Accommodation: 39
• Drilled depth of wells: 3,573.0m
• Directional drilling max deviation: up to 50 degrees from vertical
• Number of wells: 8

• Weight at float out (excl. piles); 700 short-tons
• Height of tower section: 37.8m
• Max dimensions of jacket on seabed: 40.8m

• Total number: 24
• Maximum depth: 22m

• Total deck loading: 2,100 short-tons
• Dimensions: 42.5m x 36.5m
• Clearance of deck above lwest se level: 24.4m

• Height from seabed to helideck: 56.8m
• Accommodation: 41
• Drilled depth of wells: 3,089m
• Directional drilling max deviation: up to 50 degrees from vertical
• Number of wells:

• Weight at float out (excl. piles): 750 short-tons
• Height of tower section: 44.2m
• Max dimensions of jacket on seabed: 41.5m

• Total number: 32
• Maximum depth: 22m

• Total deck loading:  1,900short-tons
• Dimensions: 42.5m x 36.5m
• Height of deck above lowest sea level: 25.9m

• Height from seabed to helideck: 53.2m
• Accommodation: 34
• Drilled depth to wells: 3,695m
• Directional drilling maximum deviation: up to 50 degrees from vertical
• Number of wells: 7

Also see West Sole - General History or download the West Sole Area Asset Portfolio (PDF Document).