Offshore staff
PARIS – GDF SUEZ and partners Centrica and Bayerngas have sanctioned the $2.2-billion Cygnus project in the UK southern North Sea.
According to GDF SUEZ, Cygnus field is the largest discovery in the southern gas basin in the past 25 years, with 2P reserves of about 18 bcm (636 bcf). The field is 150 km (93 mi) off the coast of Lincolnshire.
Cygnus will be developed with two drilling centers, four platforms, and an initial 10 development wells. The planned gas export route is through the ETS subsea pipeline system to the Bacton gas terminal on the Norfolk coast.
Start-up is scheduled for late 2015. By 2016, Cygnus should account for about 5% of the UK’s total gas production.
Construction contracts with a total value of $586 million already are in place.
AMEC was awarded detailed design, scheduled for completion in 2014. The $93.7-million contract will create up to 200 new jobs at peak.
Heerema Fabrication Group and Burntisland Fabrications will manage the main fabrication contracts, Ensco the development drilling design, and Saipem installation of the subsea export line. Seaway Heavy Lifting Contractors will provide transport and installation services for the platforms and subsea structure.
The project will additionally create 50 jobs at GDF SUEZ’ headquarters in Aberdeen, and a further 100 jobs offshore when the field comes online.
8/08/2012
