<h1>Elgin-Franklin Oil and Gas Project (United Kingdom)</h1>
<p>The Elgin-Franklin Oil and Gas Project is an offshore conventional oil and gas development in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea. The project produces gas condensate and associated liquids from high-pressure,high-temperature reservoirs in the Central Graben area. Elgin-Franklin is a hub-and-satellite production complex with processing and export infrastructure connected to the SEAL pipeline system,the Graben Area Export Line,and the Forties Pipeline System.</p>
<h2>Quick Facts</h2>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Item</th><th>Detail</th></tr>
<tr><td>Project Name</td><td>Elgin-Franklin Oil and Gas Project</td></tr>
<tr><td>Country</td><td>United Kingdom</td></tr>
<tr><td>Fuel Type</td><td>Oil and gas</td></tr>
<tr><td>Production Type</td><td>Conventional</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td>Operating</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status Year</td><td>2020</td></tr>
<tr><td>Operator</td><td>TotalEnergies (legacy); NEO NEXT+ (current per Ithaca Energy)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Owner(s)</td><td>Harbour Energy PLC 19%; Ithaca Energy (UK) Ltd 21%; TotalEnergies SE 25%; other 22%; EF Oil &amp; Gas Ltd 10%</td></tr>
<tr><td>Parent Company</td><td>TotalEnergies SE 25.7%; other 22.9%; Harbour Energy PLC 19.3%; EF Oil &amp; Gas Ltd 10.4%; Ithaca Energy PLC</td></tr>
<tr><td>Discovery Year</td><td>1986 (Franklin); 1991 (Elgin)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Final Investment Decision Year</td><td>1997</td></tr>
<tr><td>Production Start Year</td><td>2001</td></tr>
<tr><td>Onshore/Offshore</td><td>Offshore</td></tr>
<tr><td>Basin</td><td>Central Graben,UK North Sea</td></tr>
<tr><td>Block(s)</td><td>022/30c; 029/04b</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Project Overview</h2>
<p>Elgin-Franklin is an operating offshore gas-condensate development in the UK Central North Sea. The project includes the Elgin,Franklin,West Franklin and Glenelg fields,and is built around a central processing hub. TotalEnergies materials describe the reservoirs as high-pressure,high-temperature (HPHT),with pressures around 1,100 bar and temperatures around 190 °C. The Elgin Process,Utilities and Quarters platform receives production from four wellhead platforms (Elgin A,Elgin B,Franklin,West Franklin) and separates gas and condensate. The project acts as a processing and export hub for nearby fields through the SEAL pipeline system (gas to Bacton) and the Graben Area Export Line / Forties Pipeline System (liquids to Kinneil). Current field-level production is not clearly disclosed in public sources.</p>
<h2>Location</h2>
<p>The project is offshore in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea,approximately 200 km east of Aberdeen in the Central Graben area. The Elgin field lies in Blocks 22/30b and 22/30c at a water depth of about 92–93 m. Franklin and West Franklin satellites are about 5.5 km south in Blocks 29/5b and 29/4d at similar water depth.</p>
<h2>Ownership and Operatorship</h2>
<p>Legacy project records identify TotalEnergies as operator. In December 2025,TotalEnergies announced an agreement to merge its UK upstream business with NEO NEXT to form NEO NEXT+,including interests in the Elgin-Franklin complex. Ithaca Energy identifies NEO NEXT+ as the current operator,with Ithaca Energy (UK) Ltd (21%),Harbour Energy PLC (19%),and ONE-Dyas holding non-operated interests. Published ownership data also includes TotalEnergies SE (25%),other participants (22%),and EF Oil &amp; Gas Ltd (10%).</p>
<h2>Development History</h2>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr><th>Milestone</th><th>Year</th><th>Details</th></tr>
<tr><td>Discovery</td><td>1986 / 1991</td><td>Franklin discovered 1986; Elgin discovered 1991.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Final Investment Decision</td><td>1997</td><td>Project approved for development.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Production start</td><td>2001</td><td>Elgin and Franklin fields began production.</td></tr>
<tr><td>West Franklin Phase 2</td><td>2015</td><td>TotalEnergies brought West Franklin Phase 2 on stream,supplying 40,000 boe/d to the hub,developing 85 million boe of reserves.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Gas leak and restart</td><td>2012–2013</td><td>March 2012 gas leak led to full shutdown; production restarted March 2013 after HSE safety-case approval.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Merger announcement</td><td>2025</td><td>TotalEnergies and NEO NEXT agree to merge UK upstream businesses,creating NEO NEXT+.</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Infrastructure and Facilities</h2>
<p>The Elgin-Franklin complex consists of four wellhead platforms (Elgin A,Elgin B,Franklin,West Franklin) and the Elgin Process,Utilities and Quarters (PUQ) platform. The PUQ platform was designed to process 15.5 million cubic meters per day of gas and 175,000 barrels per day of liquids. Gas is exported 468 km through the 34-inch SEAL pipeline to the Bacton terminal. Liquids are exported via the Graben Area Export Line and the Forties Pipeline System to Kinneil for stabilization. The infrastructure includes a third-party access tie-in point via the Elgin B platform.</p>
<h2>Production and Reserves</h2>
<p>Production started in 2001. TotalEnergies reported in 2013 that cumulative production from the Elgin-Franklin area had exceeded 700 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) by end of 2012,with remaining reserves in excess of 500 million boe. Global Energy Monitor reported remaining reserves of 457 million boe in 2019. West Franklin Phase 2 added 85 million boe of reserves. Average production was 140,000 boe/d in 2011 and approximately 70,000 boe/d after the 2013 restart. Current field-level output is not clearly disclosed.</p>
<h2>Recent Developments</h2>
<p>In December 2025,TotalEnergies and NEO NEXT announced a merger of their UK upstream businesses,including the Elgin-Franklin complex,to form NEO NEXT+. Ithaca Energy identifies NEO NEXT+ as operator,with itself,Harbour Energy,and ONE-Dyas as non-operated partners. No updated field-level drilling schedule,production forecast,or reserves statement has been published since the merger announcement.</p>
<h2>Related Topics</h2>
<ul>
<li>UK Central North Sea oil and gas production</li>
<li>High-pressure,high-temperature offshore reservoirs</li>
<li>Elgin and Franklin gas-condensate fields</li>
<li>West Franklin Phase 2 development</li>
<li>SEAL pipeline system and Bacton gas terminal</li>
<li>Graben Area Export Line and Forties Pipeline System</li>
<li>North Sea hub infrastructure and third-party access</li>
<li>UK Continental Shelf mature asset consolidation</li>
<li>Offshore well integrity and process safety</li>
</ul>
<h2>Sources</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gem.wiki/Elgin-Franklin_Oil_and_Gas_Project_(United_Kingdom)">Global Energy Monitor: Elgin-Franklin Oil and Gas Project (United Kingdom)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://dxm.content-center.totalenergies.com/api/wedia/dam/variation/xysh7dg731tahg3m1j9eydkbfc/original%2Cdefault">TotalEnergies: Elgin / Franklin infrastructure access document</a></li>
<li><a href="https://totalenergies.com/media/news/press-releases/uk-west-franklin-phase-2-brought-stream-north-sea">TotalEnergies: West Franklin Phase 2 brought on stream in the North Sea</a></li>
<li><a href="https://totalenergies.com/newsroom/point-de-situation-royaume-uni-fuite-de-gaz-sur-la-plate-forme-delgin-en-mer-du-nord/?lang=eng">TotalEnergies: Situation update on Elgin platform gas leak</a></li>
<li><a href="https://totalenergies.com/media/news/press-releases/royaume-uni-total-redemarre-la-production-de-la-zone-delginfranklin-en-mer-du-nord-britannique">TotalEnergies: Restart of production from the Elgin-Franklin area</a></li>
<li><a href="https://totalenergies.co.uk/news/totalenergies-merges-its-upstream-business-neo-next-creating-largest-independent-oil-and-gas">TotalEnergies UK: Merger of UK upstream business with NEO NEXT</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ithacaenergy.com/assets/elgin-franklin">Ithaca Energy: Elgin-Franklin asset page</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.offshore-technology.com/projects/elgin/">Offshore Technology: Elgin-Franklin Offshore Field,North Sea</a></li>
</ul>

IEPTC reference profile for Elgin - Franklin Oil and Gas in United Kingdom,covering asset type,location,development status,and upstream industry context.

Elgin - Franklin Oil and Gas Project (United Kingdom)

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Elgin - Franklin Oil and Gas Project (United Kingdom)

Elgin - Franklin Oil and Gas Project (United Kingdom)

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