Field Intelligence5 min read

Forties Oil Field — Field Intelligence Summary

Complete field intelligence summary for Forties Oil Field — geology, reservoir properties, petrophysics, drilling hazards and geosteering approach.

30 May 2026Geosteering Engineer, Petrophysicist, Drilling Engineer

Forties Oil Field — Field Intelligence Summary

Executive Summary

The Forties Oil Field is a giant offshore oil field located in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea. It is operated by Data not publicly available and remains a producing field. The reservoir consists of Paleocene submarine fan turbidite sandstones characterized by high porosity and permeability. These complex depositional architectures create heterogeneous sandstone bodies that demand precise geosteering to optimize well placement. Lessons learned from navigating its submarine fan systems continue to inform geosteering strategies across North Sea turbidite plays.

Field Overview

  • Location: United Kingdom, Data not publicly available, North Sea
  • Operator: Data not publicly available
  • Discovery Year: 1970
  • Field Status: producing
  • Block/Licence: Data not publicly available

Geological Setting

  • Basin Type: Data not publicly available
  • Structural Style: Data not publicly available
  • Formation Age: Paleocene
  • Depositional Environment: submarine fan (marine)
  • Dip & Azimuth: Data not publicly available

Reservoir Properties

  • Formation Name: Forties Formation
  • Lithology: turbidite sandstone
  • Depth Range: Data not publicly available
  • Porosity: Data not publicly available
  • Permeability: Data not publicly available
  • Fluid Type: oil
  • Original OIP/OOIP: Data not publicly available

Completion Strategy

  • Completion Type: Data not publicly available
  • Stimulation Methods: Data not publicly available
  • Well Orientation: Data not publicly available

Production Data

  • Peak Production Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Cumulative Production: Data not publicly available
  • Number of Wells: 77 (as of 2010)

Infrastructure

  • Platforms: Data not publicly available
  • Surface Facilities: Data not publicly available
  • Export Routes: Data not publicly available

Geosteering Challenges

  • Wellbore Placement: Data not publicly available
  • Geological Hazards: Data not publicly available
  • Operational Considerations: Data not publicly available

References

  • “Reservoir Geology of the Forties Oilfield,” ResearchGate
  • “The First UK Giant Oil Field,” GeoExpro
  • “Forties oil field,” Wikipedia
  • “Forties Oilfield – a timeline,” Offshore Technology
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