White Rose field debuts in Newfoundland

Newfoundland’s third offshore oil project started commercial operations Nov. 12, on schedule and on budget, when the C$2.3 billion White Rose field joined Hibernia and Terra Nova.

Owned 72.5 percent by Husky Energy and 27.5 percent by Petro-Canada, White Rose started pumping its first oil into a floating production, storage and offloading vessel. Two shuttle tankers, with capacity of 1 million barrels each, have been chartered to carry White Rose crude to world markets.

The project is targeting peak output of 100,000 barrels per day in the first half of 2006 and a lifespan of 12 to 15 years, although Husky officials have held out hope that additions to reserves could push the lifespan beyond 20 years.

Husky, encouraged by summer drilling that produced better-than-anticipated results, expects to drill 19 to 21 development wells. The company is also giving attention to ways of transporting natural gas from White Rose to market, setting a broad target of 2010-2012. Challenges to be overcome include selecting a transportation system, with options including underwater pipelines or compressed natural gas tankers.

If a decision is made to process gas offshore, Husky will have to make significant modifications to its production vessel.

—Gary Park