Total has signed an agreement to sell 20% of its interests in the Laggan, Tormore, Edradour and Glenlivet fields, located in the West of Shetland area, to SSE E&P U.K. Ltd. for £565 million (about $876 million), subject to the customary approvals, the company said in a news release.

“The sale of these minority interests is aligned with Total’s portfolio management strategy and target of divesting $5 billion of assets in 2015. It allows us to capitalize fully on this new deep offshore development, while retaining a majority interest and operatorship,” said Arnaud Breuillac, president, E&P. “With the upcoming start-up of Laggan, followed by Tormore, Edradour and Glenlivet in the coming years, Total is opening up a new frontier area for gas production in the United Kingdom.”

The Laggan and Tormore fields are located around 140 km west of the Shetland Islands on Blocks 206/1a, 205/4b and 205/5a, in 600 m of water. Development of the fields was launched in 2010 and first gas is expected in the coming months, Total said in the release. The development concept consists of a 140-km tie-back of five subsea wells to the new onshore Shetland gas plant, with a peak production rate of 500 million standard cubic feet per day.

Development of the Edradour and Glenlivet fields was launched in 2014. The Edradour discovery is located 75 km northwest of Shetland on Block 206/4a, in 300 m of water. The Glenlivet discovery is located north of Edradour on Block 214/30a, in 400 m of water. Total said Edradour will be developed by converting the discovery well into a production well, connected to the main Laggan-Tormore flowline by a 16-km subsea tie-back. Glenlivet will be developed via two wells and a 17-km production pipeline tied back to Edradour. Edradour is expected to start up in 2017, followed by Glenlivet in 2018.

Following completion of the transaction, Total will hold a 60% operated interest in the Laggan, Tormore, Edradour and Glenlivet fields, alongside partners DONG E&P (U.K.) Ltd. (20%) and SSE E&P U.K. Ltd. (20%). The sale also includes 20% of Total’s interest in the Shetland gas plant and interests in several exploration licenses located in the West of Shetland area, including the Tobermory discovery.

Offshore