ENGIE E&P UK (formerly GDF Suez E&P) has started production from the giant Cygnus southern North Sea gas development.
The field, in license areas P1055 & P1731, 150km off Lincolnshire, is expected to contribute 5% of UK gas production.
Cygnus was developed using four platforms, a total of 10 wells and two subsea structures, serving an estimated field size of 250sq km from which it is expected to achieve plateau production of 250 MMcf/d.
Production was delayed by about a year, from an original first gas date of late 2015.
The Cygnus field, which has gross 2P reserves of approximately 18 Bcm, according to a 2015 estimate, consists of two drilling centers, the Alpha and Bravo. Heerema Hartlepool received the frame agreement from operator GDF Suez E&P UK (part of ENGIE Group) in August 2012 for the construction of three topsides, a compression module, with two bridges to connect the three Alpha platforms and a flare tower for the Cygnus field.
A further development, Cygnus Bravo, is expected to follow. Ruud Zoon, Managing Director of ENGIE E&P UK said: “First gas from Cygnus represents a significant boost to the UK’s long term energy security, with an estimated production life exceeding 20 years. Furthermore, with over 80% of the contract work secured by British businesses – including fabrication yards in Hartlepool, Methil and Burntisland – it is a showcase for the technical and commercial excellence of the UK oil and gas supply chain.”
The APU platform is the largest one in the Cygnus field. It is 65x35x25m in size and weighs about 4600-tonne. The APU platform receives the gas from the Alpha and Bravo wellhead platform and optimizes the gas to prepare for transportation through a pipeline to the Bacton gas terminal onshore. Once the APU is installed the ACM module, with the 25m-tall tall flare boom, will be incorporated on top of the APU topside.
The BWHP, an unmanned Satellite platform, is 42x25x13m in size and weighs approximately 3200-tonne and is situated circa 7km from the main hub. The BWHP will be operated remotely from the APU platform. Maintenance and other personnel can reach the platform by helicopter.
Equity interests are operator ENGIE E&P UK Ltd. (38.75%) and partners Centrica (48.75%) and Bayerngas (12.5%).
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