CATS LINE DUE LINKUP WITH U.K. GAS GRID

Amoco (U.K.) Exploration Co. plans to tie its Central Area Transmission System (CATS) pipeline from the North Sea into Britain's gas grid. The 11 million ($16.5 million) project will involve laying a 4 mile, 36 in. diameter pipeline from Seal Sands terminal at Teesside to link with the grid at Cowpen Bayley. The link is expected to be in operation by the end of 1995. Work will include building a gas receiving and odorizing plant at Amoco's terminal, to be owned and operated by British

Sept. 19, 1994

2 min read

Amoco (U.K.) Exploration Co. plans to tie its Central Area Transmission System (CATS) pipeline from the North Sea into Britain's gas grid.

The 11 million ($16.5 million) project will involve laying a 4 mile, 36 in. diameter pipeline from Seal Sands terminal at Teesside to link with the grid at Cowpen Bayley. The link is expected to be in operation by the end of 1995.

Work will include building a gas receiving and odorizing plant at Amoco's terminal, to be owned and operated by British Gas plc.

CATS currently moves as much as 300 MMcfd of gas from Amoco's Everest and Lomond fields to a terminal at Teesside for processing. The gas is then sent to a nearby combined cycle power plant operated by Enron Europe Ltd.

The new pipeline link will enable Amoco to provide access for a total 1.6 bcfd of gas from Central North Sea fields to the British Gas distribution grid. Enron will use the link to distribute gas from Judy and Joanne fields to U.K. customers.

Enron has agreed to buy 300 MMcfd of Judy and Joanne gas from field operator Phillips Petroleum Co. U.K. Ltd., which expects to start production in April 1996.

Another 450 MMcfd is expected to flow through the link starting in late 1997, when British Gas brings on stream its Armada group of gas fields (OGJ, July 18, p. 26).

Amoco intends to build a 450 MMcfd processing plant at Teesside in readiness for Armada gas. The company is negotiating with other potential shippers for transport of gas through CATS.

CATS interest holders are operator Amoco 29.53%, Amerada Hess Ltd. 17.72%, British Gas 51.18%, Phillips 0.66%, Fina Exploration Ltd. 0.57%, and Agip (U.K.) Ltd. 0.34%.