RWE starts drilling for gas in North Sea HAMBURG, Germany, May 22 (UPI) -- German energy company RWE Dea announced it started development drilling at the Breagh field in the North Sea, where the first gas is expected in months. "After extensive and detailed preparation work over recent months, we are delighted to reach the next stage in this project as the field's expected reserves will make a significant contribution to the growth of RWE Dea's gas production," said Rene Pawel, regional managing director for the company, in a statement. Our team is looking forward to a successful drilling campaign. The British Department of Energy and Climate Change approved RWE's plans to operate in the Breagh natural gas field in southern regions of the North Sea in July. Natural gas from the offshore field will be transported through a 20-inch pipeline to the British mainland. The pipeline and onshore processing plant could handle as much as 400 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, the company said. First gas from the North Sea field is expected during the second half of this year.