EnQuest flags lower 2026 output after North Sea storm disrupts Magnus field operations

Summary

EnQuest expects lower oil and gas production in 2026 after storm damage to a key third-party platform caused a multi-week outage affecting its Magnus field in the UK North Sea.

UK North Sea producer EnQuest said it expects reduced output this year following a storm-related outage that disrupted operations at its Magnus field.

The company said damage to the third-party Ninian Central platform — a key regional hub — led to a shutdown of connected infrastructure after severe weather earlier in the year.

Outage temporarily halted production

The disruption resulted in a roughly five-week halt at the Magnus field, one of EnQuest’s core producing assets. Production resumed in late February after repairs and safety checks were completed.

Chief Executive Amjad Bseisu said challenging weather conditions early in the year affected operations but the company remains focused on stabilising production.

Lower guidance for 2026

EnQuest now expects full-year production of 41,000–45,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd).

That compares with 2025 output of about 45,606 boepd, when strong uptime supported performance.

Infrastructure risks highlighted

The outage underscores the operational risks associated with reliance on shared infrastructure in the North Sea, where severe weather can disrupt production even when individual assets are unaffected.

Why this matters

Production guidance changes can influence investor expectations and highlight operational risks in mature offshore basins.

For the broader North Sea industry, the incident illustrates how weather-related disruptions and infrastructure dependencies remain key factors shaping output stability.

FAQs

Q1. Why did EnQuest lower its production outlook?

Storm damage to the Ninian Central platform caused a multi-week outage affecting the Magnus field.

Q2. What is the Magnus field?

One of EnQuest’s principal oil and gas producing assets in the UK North Sea.

Q3. What is the new 2026 production forecast?

Between 41,000 and 45,000 boepd.

Q4. How did production perform in 2025?

Output was about 45,606 boepd.

Q5. What caused the disruption?

Severe weather damaged a key third-party platform, forcing a shutdown of connected operations.

Q6. What does this indicate for the sector?

It highlights the impact of weather and infrastructure dependencies on offshore production.