West of Shetland oil and gas explorer Hurricane Energy plc said on Wednesday it has achieved “First Oil” at its important Lancaster field.

Lancaster is the UK’s first producing “fractured basement field.”

Hurricane Energy is hoping to be the first company to prove that oil can be commercially produced from “fractured basement” rock formations on the UK Continental Shelf.

Hurricane is focused on hydrocarbon resources in “naturally fractured basement reservoirs.”

Hurricane CEO Robert Trice said: “I am delighted to announce that First Oil has been achieved and that the Lancaster field is now on produc􏰁tion, beginning the phased development of Hurricane’s considerable resources on the Rona Ridge.

“Lancaster is the UK’s first producing fractured basement field and the fact that Hurricane has delivered this industry milestone on 􏰁time and within budget is an incredible achievement.

“I would like to thank the staff of Hurricane, our Tier 1 contractors, and our shareholders for having the vision to make Lancaster happen.

“We have successfully achieved our start-up data acquisition objectives and commenced the evaluation of this material.

“Up to 12 months of stable produc􏰁on will be required in order to provide a clear view of the reservoir and enable us to plan for associated full field development scenarios.”

Hurricane said in a stock exchange statement: “On 4 June 2019, the Aoka Mizu FPSO’s start-up phase completed with a 72-hour produc􏰀tion test (First Oil).

“The combined flow from both wells during this test period reached and maintained the planned produc􏰀tion rate of 20,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) …

“The company an􏰀ticipates a gradual ramp-up in faciliti􏰀es availability over the first six months of produc􏰀tion towards long term opera􏰀ting efficiency of 85%.

“The company restates exis􏰀ting guidance for facili􏰀ties availability of three months at 45% and then a further three months at 65%, resul􏰀ting in average produc􏰀tion rates of 9,000 bopd and 13,000 bopd, respectively.”