It warned that meeting a target to complete an export pipeline from the field by the end of the year was becoming "increasingly challenging," although chief executive Bill Gammell said any delay would be a matter of weeks rather than months.
Cairn reported a first-half loss of GBP115.6m, compared with a profit of GBP407m in the same period last year.
The plunge into the red came after underlying revenues fell 55pc on the back of lower oil prices and a decline in production from aging fields.
No dividend payment was made. Shares in the group fell 37p to 2586p.
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