China National Offshore Oil Corp Ltd announced on Friday that the first production from the Rochelle gas-condensate field in the UK's North Sea has commenced.

At Rochelle field, Nexen Petroleum UK Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC, acts as the field operator.

The Rochelle field in Blocks 15/26b, 15/26c and 15/27 lies approximately 115 miles northeast of Aberdeen.

The field development consists of the construction of two subsea production wells (East and West Rochelle) and the installation of a production pipeline to the Scott platform.

Initial production will be from West Rochelle.

Drilling continues on East Rochelle, which is expected to be online during the fourth quarter of this year.

All production from Rochelle will be processed at the Nexen UK-operated Scott platform.

At the Rochelle field, Nexen UK has a 41 percent interest, with other partners being Endeavour International Corp with 44 percent and Premier Oil with 15 percent.

Nexen UK has a 41.9 percent working interest in the Scott platform.