UK-listed Serica Energy has hailed the long-awaited start-up of production at its Columbus field in the UK central North Sea, a tie-back to Shell's Shearwater facilities. Columbus is tied back to Shearwater, about 35 kilometres away, through a pipeline linking another Shell development - Arran - to the Shearwater hub. Hydrocarbons from Columbus' only production well - C1z - began flowing into the Arran subsea system on 24 November, Serica said on Thursday. Columbus is expected to ramp up production in the weeks ahead, with information on flow rates due to be issued next month as part of an operations update. First production had been expected last year but the schedule had to be adjusted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Serica chief executive Mitch Flegg said he was "delighted" first production has been achieved "as planned" during this quarter.
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