ConocoPhillips said it attained a sustained production rate of 170 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of natural gas, which was above design intent. The Hawksley discovery well - 44/17a-6Y - was completed in July this year and is one of five natural gas reservoirs currently being developed by ConocoPhillips as a single, unitised project containing some 430 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas.

The other reservoirs are McAdam, Murdoch K, Boulton H and Watt. Collectively, they are known as CMS III because they are being developed using the production and transportation facilities of the ConocoPhillips-operated Caister Murdoch System (CMS), Conoco said.

"The satellite development comprises subsea production centers for each reservoir, interconnecting pipelines, service umbilicals and control systems linked back to the CMS facilities located at the Murdoch field," the Conoco said. "The subsea infrastructure is now in place, and as each new production well is completed, tie-in and production will be achieved within weeks."

Conoco added that the complex required extensive new and upgraded facilities, including a new bridge-linked accommodation platform, which was installed in May this year, and tie-ins for the CMS III subsea development.

Conoco said the CMS III satellites are expected to achieve peak production in the range of 300 mmcfd of natural gas when the six-well drilling program is complete.