Commercial oil production started earlier this month from Layang field on Block SK10 offshore Sarawak, Malaysia, operator JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corporation announced this week.

Layang, which has been producing natural gas since May 2017, commenced oil production by using a floating production, storage and offloading unit (FPSO) Helang on December 3. Oil production is estimated at about 3,000 barrels per day, and about 10,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOED) with natural gas combined.

Petronas Carigali is a partner in the field.

FPSO Helang is also planned to be utilized for production and shipping of oil from the nearby Helang field, also in Block SK10. The production of oil and natural gas from Layang and Helang through FPSO Helang is estimated to reach about 20,000 BOED, JX Nippon said.

The expansion of production facilities in Block SK10 comprises the Layang, Helang and Beryl gas fields.