Ithaca Energy, together with Equinor (the Operator), have announced that they have taken the final investment decision to progress Phase 1 of the Rosebank development on the UK Continental Shelf, together investing $3.8 billion in the development.

 

The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) granted consent for the development of the field on 27 September 2023. Ithaca Energy owns a 20 per cent working interest in Rosebank.

 

The Rosebank field is located around 130 kilometres north-west of Shetland. Recoverable resources are estimated at around 300 million barrels of oil from phase 1 and 2, with Phase 1 targeting an estimated 245 million barrels of oil.

 

The field will be developed with subsea wells tied back to a redeployed Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (“FPSO”), with first production expected in 2026-2027.

 

 The Rosebank field will produce in excess of 21 MMSCF of natural gas every day, the equivalent to the daily use of Aberdeen City.

 

The Rosebank development has been optimised to reduce carbon emissions, in line with the North Sea Transition Deal, with the FPSO designed to be electrification-ready. Ithaca Energy and Equinor continue to collaborate with government and industry stakeholders to pursue a regional solution for power from shore to Rosebank and nearby fields with the objective of minimising carbon emissions from production.

 

According to Socioeconomic report prepared by Wood Mackenzie and Voar Energy, the Rosebank development is expected to lead to £8.1 billion of total direct investment, of which 78 per crent  is likely to be invested in UK-based businesses. It is expected to support around 1,600 jobs during the height of the construction phase of the project, and it will continue to support approx. 450 UK-based jobs during the lifetime of the field.

 

The following contracts have been awarded in relation to the development:

 

TechnipFMC has been awarded an integrated engineering, procurement, construction and installation (iEPCI) contract for subsea production systems, umbilicals, risers and flowlines with an estimated value of $500 million derived locally. TechnipFMC has estimated that more than half of the contract value will be generated from local activities across the UK, with a large portion in Scotland.

 

Project management and engineering activities will be performed mainly from Aberdeen and tree systems will be manufactured in Dunfermline. Umbilicals will be produced in Newcastle, pipelines will be fabricated in Evanton and the main vessel mobilisation site will also be in the UK. In addition, several other fabrication sites in the UK will contribute to the project.

 

Odjfell Drilling has been awarded a rig contract, with an estimated value of $328 million including options, integrated services and other modifications. The Deepsea Atlantic mobile rig is scheduled to start a seven-well drilling campaign in the second quarter of 2025, and an additional four single well options are included.

 

Altera has been awarded a bareboat charter and an operations and maintenance contract related to the Petrojarl Knarr FPSO which is set to be deployed for Rosebank on a firm contract for nine years, with options up to a total of 25 years.

 

Gilad Myerson, Executive Chairman, Ithaca Energy, commented: “We are delighted to announce the decision to move forward with the Rosebank development alongside Equinor. Rosebank stands as the largest undeveloped field in the UK, and with the receipt of development consent from the NSTA, we are now poised to embark on a journey that will not only provide critically important domestic energy but also ignite substantial economic impact. The Rosebank project will create thousands of jobs and contribute significantly to securing the UK’s energy needs for many years to come.”

 

Alan Bruce, Chief Executive Officer, Ithaca Energy, commented: “Ithaca Energy continues to deliver against its stated strategy and demonstrate its commitment to investing in the UK North Sea. We look forward to expanding our working partnership with Equinor to deliver one of the lowest emission intensity assets in the UK. The Rosebank development represents a significant investment in the UK and Scotland, and we are delighted to be supporting our local supply chain.”