Murlach field, North Sea. Image: bp
(WO) — bp has begun production from the Murlach field in the UK North Sea, marking the company’s sixth major upstream start-up of 2025. The Murlach redevelopment, a two-well subsea tieback to the bp-operated Eastern Trough Area Project (ETAP) hub, is expected to add around 15,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) at peak production.
The Murlach project contributes to bp’s strategy to deliver 10 major upstream oil and gas developments by the end of 2027. Collectively, bp’s six 2025 start-ups are expected to add approximately 150,000 boed in combined peak net production.
Originally operational in the early 2000s, the Murlach field was redeveloped after bp acquired the relinquished license in 2023. The project reused existing subsea and topside infrastructure, reducing development time and costs.
“A key focus for bp in the North Sea is to identify opportunities that can be developed competitively using existing infrastructure,” said Doris Reiter, bp’s senior vice president for the North Sea. “Murlach serves as another example of efficiently extending the life of established hubs.”
The project was delivered with co-venturer NEO NEXT Energy and supply chain partners.
