Premier Oil reported that it continues to anticipate first oil from Solan field before the end of the year.

Good offshore productivity and high uptime has been achieved with the Regalia flotel during September and October, the company said.

Commissioning of the offshore installation systems required for first oil is progressing as planned. A number of the critical path platform systems have now been commissioned including the firewater deluge system and other safety-related systems. As a result, all material construction work for first oil is now complete, the subsea infrastructure is now commissioned, and all the utilities including power, fuel supply and air are ready for first oil.

Drydocks World delivered the subsea oil storage tank Solan in 2014. Solan accommodates more than 400,000 barrels of oil under the sea.

In cooperation with Premier, Drydocks World constructed the largest and deepest subsea oil storage tank comprised of a 45m x 45m x 25m structural tank weighing approximately 10,150 tonnes in eight mega blocks, connected with pile sleeves and mud mats.

Tanker trials work started on the November 10 and the Superior flotel is contracted to arrive on the November 20 to replace the current Regalia flotel.

The first pair of producer-injector wells required for first oil have been successfully tied in. Drilling of the second producer well started in July completing over 1000 feet of the reservoir section.

However, during drilling of the remaining reservoir section technical difficulties were encountered and the well has been suspended. The Ocean Valiant rig is currently drilling the second injector well. It is anticipated that the second producing well will now be side-tracked in Q2 2016. This will have no impact on first oil from the Solan field and expected plateau production remains 20-25 kboepd when both pairs of wells are on-stream. Cash spend to October 31 on the Solan project stood at $1.76 billion, Premier explained.

Tony Durrant, Chief Executive, commented: “Premier continues to benefit from stable production and valuable hedging contracts. Commissioning on the Solan project progressed well during good autumn weather and the field remains on track for first oil by year-end.”