OREANDA-NEWS. In the last three months, GDF SUEZ E&P successfully started up the production of three operated oil and gas fields in the British and Dutch North Sea: Orca, Amstel and Juliet fields. The development phases took less than three years and illustrate the technical expertise of GDF SUEZ E&P affiliates in Northern Europe. In addition, new volumes just came on stream in Norway and will come later this year in the Netherlands.

In total, with these new productions, GDF SUEZ should add 46 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) to its developed reserves portfolio (net). End 2013, the Group's reserves amounted 799 Mboe.

Jean-Marie Dauger, Executive Vice President of GDF SUEZ, in charge of Global Gas & LNG Business Line stated: “As announced during the Group's annual results, these new production start ups increase the GDF SUEZ gas and oil production. Through these investments, the Group demonstrates an ability to deliver successful E&P projects in the North Sea, which is essential for further development in growth areas.”

The Orca gas field, which straddles the UK and Dutch sectors of the North Sea, is a cross-border gas development between the two countries. On 18 December, 2013, first gas was successfully produced from the first of three wells to be drilled from the new D18a-A production platform, located 500 meters from the UK sector in the Dutch waters. At plateau in 2014, the platform will produce approximately 7,000 boe per day (gross).

Juliet field first gas was produced on 5 January, 2014. A subsea development on the western flank of the Southern Gas Basin, this field is located 39 km East of the Lincolnshire coastline in the UK. Initial gas was produced from the West Well, the first of two wells to be drilled. The second well (Juliet East) came on-stream on 9 March, 2014.

Juliet is now producing at plateau approximately 14,000 boe per day (gross).

Amstel field oil production was announced on 10 February, 2014, from the newly installed Q13a-A production platform off the Dutch coast. The Amstel field is expected to produce at plateau 15,000 barrels of oil per day (gross), with an expected field production life of 10 years.

In Norway, after the successful installation of the Statoil operated Gudrun platform during summer 2013, production started on 7 April 2014. GDF SUEZ holds a 25% working interest in the licence. At plateau, production will be 90,000 boe per day (gross). Production should last at least for 11 years.

Later this year, GDF SUEZ is also expecting first gas from the Sierra HP-HT (High Pressure-High Temperature) gas field in the Dutch North Sea. The discovery was announced in July 2011, less than three years ago.