Serica Energy chooses Wood for Bruce Platform life extension

Wood has secured an engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) contract with Serica Energy to extend the life of the Bruce platform in the UK North Sea.

Under the five-year framework, it will aim to get production through to 2030 and beyond, while improving operational efficiency and reliability. This will be delivered by a “substantial” team of Wood personnel, based both in Aberdeen and offshore.

Steve Nicol, chief operating officer of operations at Wood, said: “This contract reflects the trust Serica Energy places in our ability to provide safe, predictable and integrated EPCC services.

“We will apply our deep asset knowledge and collaborative approach to support Serica’s long-term plans for the Bruce platform and help maximise value through reliable execution.”

Wood has worked with Serica since 2018, most recently bringing the Bruce flare gas recovery system into operation.

Operated by Serica since 2018, the Bruce hub produces around 5% of the UK’s gas through the Bruce, Keith and Rhum fields.

Discovered in 1974 and developed by BP in the early 1990s, the hub is located 340 km north east of Aberdeen.

There have been no wells drilled on the field since 2012, but numerous infill drilling locations have been identified and high-graded, “with three opportunities prioritised on the western side of the field, providing the best opportunity for rapid tie-back to the Bruce subsea and platform facilities”.

Serica has stated that drilling could potentially begin in 2027, “with the potential to deliver a material uplift in production from the Bruce field as well as to extend the life of the hub”.