The Premier Oil-operated Catcher project, located in the UK Central North Sea, has achieved first oil.

According to BW Offshore, first oil from the Catcher FPSO was achieved on December 23, 2017.

The initial hydrocarbon volumes were produced following hook-up and commissioning period. The FPSO arrived at the Catcher field on October 18, after sail-away from the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore in late August and a brief stopover at Nigg.

“The Catcher development project is nearing completion on time and well within budget. We are very pleased with the effective hook-up and commissioning, which reflects extensive preparations through-out the construction phase and a well-planned offshore installation program,” said Carl K. Arnet, the CEO of BW Offshore.

BW Catcher is owned and operated by BW Offshore and will start a seven-year fixed term contract, with extension options of up to 18 years.

The Catcher field partnership is made up of Premier Oil (50%), Cairn Energy (20%), MOL Group (20%) and Dyas (10%).

The sanctioned development entails 20 subsea wells on the Catcher, Varadero and Burgman fields which will be tied back to a leased FPSO, the BW Catcher.

The FPSO unit has an oil storage capacity of 650,000 barrels and a processing capacity of up to 60,000 barrels per day.