GDF Suez E&P UK plans develop Cygnus natural gas field in the southern gas basin of the UK North Sea with four platforms starting production by the end of 2015.
The operator has let a frame contract to Heerema Fabrication Group for fabrication and commissioning of four topsides for platforms to be set in 23 m of water 150 km northeast of Easington, England. Heerema will perform the work at its Hartlepool yard in Northeast England.
GDF Suez also let a contract for detailed design of the Cygnus project to AMEC, which handled front-end engineering and design (OGJ Online, Oct. 3, 2011).
Cygnus development remains subject to approval by the UK government.
Three of the platforms will form a bridge-linked complex called Cygnus Alpha. The fourth, Cygnus Bravo, will not normally be manned.
GDF Suez estimates proved plus probable reserves at Cynus at 18 billion cu m. It hasn’t reported expected production rates.
The company plans to develop the field with 10 initial development wells and two drilling centers. It estimates investment at €1.7 billion. It expects gas to flow via the Esmond Transportation System (ETS) pipeline to the Bacton terminal in North Norfolk.
Interests are GDF Suez 38.75%, Centrica Energy 48.75%, and Bayerngas 12.5%.
Bob Tippee | Editor
Bob Tippee has been chief editor of Oil & Gas Journal since January 1999 and a member of the Journal staff since October 1977. Before joining the magazine, he worked as a reporter at the Tulsa World and served for four years as an officer in the US Air Force. A native of St. Louis, he holds a degree in journalism from the University of Tulsa.