Centrica is planning a US$77.66 million (£60 million) investment in its operations in Morecambe Bay, in the East Irish Sea, off the west coast of England, to boost output.
The campaign will unlock up to a further 3 Bcf of gas under the East Irish Sea by simplifying the process required to get it to shore.
The project will see two 5000-tonne platforms, DP6 and DP8, refurbished. Work will start this month and run for about nine months with teams working from a walk to work jackup accommodation barge, the GMS Endurance.
The work will involved overhauling the equipment on the normally-unmanned installations, as well as removing the lifeboats and 60-tonne cranes on both platforms, so that they can be refurbished and reinstalled.
Centrica says the project is just one part of a major investment program across its Morecambe Bay operations, both offshore and onshore.
Earlier this year, Centrica announced plans to remove some of the redundant equipment on its South Terminal at the Barrow Gas Terminals in a $19.4 million (£15 million) project. All the gas from Centrica’s East Irish Sea fields is now processed at the newer North Morecambe Terminal, leading to the planning application to remove some of the oldest equipment at the nearby South Terminal.
Tamsin Lishman, Morecambe Bay Director for Centrica’s Exploration & Production business said: “The Morecambe Bay fields have been a cornerstone of our business since first gas flowed into the Barrow Gas Terminals more than 30 years ago, so we are delighted to continue investing in their future.
“With nearly 300 Bcf of gas still in place under the East Irish Sea, major projects like this will help ensure we maximize the potential of these fields and continue supplying gas for UK homes and businesses.”