ni, through its subsidiary Eni UK, has started production at the Blane oil field, located 260 km off the coast of Aberdeen, Scotland. Eni UK has an 18%-interest in the field, which is being developed in cooperation with Talisman Energy (UK) Limited (Operator, 25%), Talisman Energy Norge AS (18%), MOC Exploration (UK) Limited (a subsidiary of Nippon Oil Corporation) (14%), Bow Valley Petroleum (UK) Limited (12.5%), and Roc Oil (GB) Limited (12.5%).

The Blane reservoir is at a depth of 70 meters and straddles the UK and Norwegian sectors. Blane’s development wells are located in the UK and are linked via pipelines with the BP-operated Ula Platform in Norway. Blane’s partners appreciate the support of both the British and Norwegian governments in developing the field.

Two horizontal development wells were drilled in 2006 and are expected to produce at a peak rate of up to 17,000 boe/d (barrels of oil equivalent per day).

Eni UK has been present in the United Kingdom since 1964. Eni UK’s activities are carried out in the British section of the North Sea, in the Irish Sea and off the coast of the Shetland Islands. In 2006 Eni UK’s net production of hydrocarbons averaged more than 141,000 boe/d.