Celebrations have been held on board the Golden Eagle offshore platform to recognise ten years of production.
Discovered in 2007, approximately 110 km North-eeast of Aberdeen, Golden Eagle was expected to produce approximately 140 million barrels of oil. It was the second largest oil discovery in the UK North Sea after discovery of the Buzzard field in 2001.
The £2.3billion development progressed from discovery to production in less than eight years, supported by a team of over 500 engineers and designers, and fabrication crews in the UK, the Netherlands, and Dubai.
Golden Eagle achieved first oil on November 1, 2014, a month ahead of schedule and within budget. It was the first new oil field to begin production as part of CNOOC International, following the company’s entry into the UK North Sea in 2013.
At its peak, Golden Eagle was producing approximately 77,000 barrels of oil per day. Ten years later, continued development and a focus on safe and sustainable operations, has seen Golden Eagle produce more than 145 million barrels of oil equivalent.
The asset has an exceptional safety record spanning its entire operational life and achieved ten years without a Lost Time Injury (LTI) in September 2024. Teamwork has underpinned Golden Eagle’s success, whilst striving for excellence every day has seen the asset maintain an average operational efficiency of 97%.
Mr. Pan Yiyong, managing director for CNOOC International’s UK North Sea business, said: “We’re delighted to recognise this important milestone and celebrate Golden Eagle’s significant contribution to the UK energy industry over the past ten years.
"As Operator of the Golden Eagle platform and on behalf of our co-venture partners, we thank the many people past and present who have supported the asset and been instrumental to Golden Eagle’s success.”