Cygnus natural gas field in the southern gas basin of the UK North Sea has started producing.
Discovered in 1988 and approved in 2012, Cygnus is 150 km offshore Lincolnshire, UK (OGJ Online, Aug. 13, 2012). Water depth in license areas P1055 and P1731 is less than 25 m.
Production life is estimated at more than 20 years. Operator Engie E&P UK Ltd. said Cygnus has four platforms.
Three are bridge-linked at the Alpha complex: a wellhead platform with 10 drilling slots; a platform for processing and utilities; and a quarters platform with the central control room. Bravo, an unmanned satellite platform with another 10 well slots, is 7 km northwest of Alpha. The field also has two subsea structures.
A 55-km pipeline connects Cygnus to the Esmond Transmission System pipeline, which ends at the Bacton gas terminal in Norfolk, with processed gas going into the National Transmission System.
Engie E&P UK Ltd., formerly GDF Suez E&P UK Ltd., has 38.75%; Centrica PLC 48.75%; and Baynerngas UK 12.5%.
Engie said plateau production is expected to be 250 MMcfd and contribute 5% of the UK’s total gas production. It also estimated that proved and probable reserves are 110 million boe, while Centrica cited 636 bcf.