(Sharecast News) - Ithaca Energy said it had completed the restart of its Pierce field in the UK Central North Sea, after an upgrade to allow gas to be produced after years of the field producing only oil.

Gross peak production is expected to reach 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, which is more than twice the production prior to the redevelopment, with more gas being produced than oil, Ithaca said on Tuesday

Substantial modifications were made to the Haewene Brim floating production, storage and offloading vessel ("FPSO"), which is used to produce hydrocarbons at the Pierce field. A new subsea gas export line was also installed which brings gas ashore at St Fergus, north of Aberdeen.

Pierce is a joint venture between Shell (Operator, 92.52%) and Ithaca Energy (UK) Limited (7.48%.)

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com.