One of the UK’s largest onshore oil producers, we extract crude oil from our wells in the Weald Basin and East Midlands fields. Our operations rest on our petroleum exploration and development licences (PEDLs), which are granted by the UK government’s Department of Environment and Climate Change after scrutiny of applicants’ financial and technical capabilities.

Oil production in Welton

Our Welton oilfield in the East Midlands comprises around 60 wells, together with associated facilities to gather and store oil and ship it out by road tanker. We sell the crude oil production to Conoco under contract.

Crude oil is pumped from the wells using traditional beam pumping units, or ‘nodding donkeys’. These installations, typically costing in the region of £1 million new, require regular maintenance. We own two mobile workover rigs which allow our technical staff to carry out well maintenance work on a planned basis, improving efficiency and eliminating the costs of outsourced third-party maintenance. Further cost savings are provided by the telemetry which links our wells to our operations centre, which allows for a high degree of unattended working.

Production from the wells is concentrated at the Welton Gathering Centre, where the naturally occurring mix of oil, gas and water is separated. The separated crude oil is pumped into storage tanks ready for loading. Road tankers take the crude oil to Conoco's refinery at Immingham, 50 km away on the North Sea coast.

Our sites are by no means a new feature of the Welton landscape, as oil exploration has taken place here since the 1950s. Several operators have owned and worked the assets over the years, and we acquired the sites and the local workforce in June 2000. The highly experienced workers have established an enviable record of operating the fields safely and in an environmentally responsible manner.

Oil production at Gainsborough

Our Gainsborough / Beckingham field in the East Midlands has been producing since 1959. There are some 29 producing wells. The Gainsborough facility also manages production from seven other oilfields, Corringham, Glentworth, East Glentworth, Rempstone, Long Clawson, South Leverton and Bothamsall. Crude oil production is sold under contract to Conoco's Immingham refinery.

Oil production in the Weald Basin

We have nine Weald Basin oilfields, situated at Humbly Grove, Herriard, Storrington, Horndean, Palmer’s Wood, Stockbridge, Goodworth, Avington and Bletchingley. The oil production is sold under contract to Esso and BP.

The nine oilfields are dispersed through Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex, and we are committed to conserving the outstanding landscapes of these three counties. We spare no effort when it comes to minimising the environmental impact of our oilfields, some of which have been in place for many years. Please see our Environment and Safety section for more information.

For Star Energy’s other products, see Gas Production, Power Generation and Gas Storage.

For maps of our operating bases, see Locations.