GDF SUEZ announces first gas production from the Juliet field, a subsea development on the western flank of the Southern Gas Basin, 39 km East of the Lincolnshire coastline in the United Kingdom.

Initial gas has been produced from the West Well, the first of two wells to be drilled. The second well (Juliet East) is expected to come on-stream in the first quarter of 2014. At plateau, the wells will produce approximately 80 million cubic feet of gas per day (800 million cubic meters per year or 5 million of barrels of oil equivalent (Mboe) per year).

Jean-Marie Dauger, Executive Vice-President of GDF SUEZ, in charge of Global Gas & LNG Business Line said: “Start of commercial production from Juliet is an important and exciting milestone as GDF SUEZ E&P UK becomes a fully fledged North Sea production operator. Juliet demonstrates our commitment to continuously developing the potential of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS) and the value that can be derived in a mature region through the efficient use of existing infrastructure.”

Produced gas is being transported by a 22 km pipeline to the Pickerill A platform and then transported onshore via their existing export pipeline to the Theddlethorpe gas terminal.

The Juliet field was discovered by GDF SUEZ E&P UK in December 2008 by vertical well 47/14b-10 which found a dry gas accumulation. The Juliet reservoir is considered to be fully appraised Rotliegendes Leman Sandstone reservoir with gross associated reserves of 11.6 Mboe. The field lies in Block 47/14b, licence P614. Juliet is a strategic key development in GDF SUEZ’ core growth areas in the UKCS.

GDF SUEZ is also operator of the Cygnus field and the UK licence operator of the Orca field in the Southern North Sea, as well as the operator of a number of exploration licences in the area.