Start up on Ithaca Energy's Stella field has been set back after electrical faults were found on the floating production unit.
First oil via the FPF-1 floating production facility had been due at the end of this month, but is now expected early January, 2017.
Ithaca said that during routine inspections, faults on a number of electrical junction boxes on the vessel’s processing facilities had been identified, resulting in the need for a program of repairs.
Les Thomas, CEO, commented: “The safety and integrity of the facility is paramount and we must ensure that everything is done meticulously in advance of the introduction of hydrocarbons into the facility. "Although any delay to start-up at this stage is frustrating, the value of a thorough inspection program has been proven and we look forward to completion of this work and the imminent start-up of production.”
Stella is in Blocks 29/10a and 30/6a under license 011. Ithaca's partners are Dyas (25.34% interest) and Petrofac (20%), with Ithaca holding the remaining 54.66%.