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LONDON -(Dow Jones)- BP PLC's (BP) Kinnoull Field development in the U.K. North Sea can go ahead as planned, Department of Energy and Climate Change Minister Charles Hendry said Tuesday. Consent has also been given for Chevron Corp.'s (CVX) Aberlour well, the company's third deepwater exploration well off the west and north of Shetland, which will use the hi-tech drilling ship the Stena Carron. Approval for Kinnoull, which will be connected to BP's Andrew platform and produce up to 45,000 barrels of oil a day, has been granted, said Hendry. "The developments announced today are clear evidence that the U.K. oil and gas sector continues to thrive," said Hendry. Copyright © 2011 Dow Jones Newswires