Ithaca Energy says drilling continues on the Stella Ekofisk well for the Greater Stella Area (GSA) development in the UK central North Sea.

Completion of the clean-up flow test is expected to follow in February, after which the jackup ENSCO 100will be demobilized, marking the end of the Stella development drilling campaign.

Installation of the outstanding subsea infrastructure should occur this spring, prior to the arrival of the upgraded floating production platform FPF-1. Once this is on location, final hookup will take place.

This month Ithaca expects production to cease from the Beatrice area in the Moray Firth off northeast Scotland. The production facilities will then be re-transferred to former operator Talisman for decommissioning.

Ithaca expects to scale back capex in 2015 by nearly 60% this year to $150 million. Around two-thirds of the expenditure relates to the GSA, with the remainder directed at completion and tie-in of the on-going Ythan development well in the UK northern North Sea; continuation of the Wytch Farm well workover program offshore/onshore southern England; asset maintenance; and two wells offshore Norway.

Source: Offshore