Tullow Oil said today it has started production at the Horne & Wren gas field in the North Sea.
In a statement the company said the field flowed at an initial rate of 60 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd). Output will reach a plateau rate of 90 mmscfd over the coming days, it said.
Tullow Oil owns a 50 per cent stake in Horne & Wren; partner Centrica holds the remaining stake.
The gas will be processed at the Thames platform and compressed for export to the Tullow-operated Bacton Terminal.
Production from the Horne & Wren wells brings the throughput of the Thames infrastructure to over 190 mmscfd, a fourfold increase since early 2004, Tullow said.
Also in the North Sea, the Opal exploration well has encountered "gas bearing" reservoir sands in the target section of the field, Tullow said.
Tullow has a 46 per cent interest in the well, which is operated by Gaz de France.