Centrica's York starts flowing

Centrica Energy has started production on its southern North Sea York gas field.

The York Platform (Image: Centrica)

The field, 100% owned by Centrica Energy Upstream, is being produced by a normally unmanned installation and is expected to produce about 120mmscf/d of gas at its peak, to be exported via pipeline to CSL’s terminal in Easington, East Yorkshire.

Drilling is now underway on York’s second well which, at 6km, is the longest well Centrica Energy has drilled and is one of the longest wells in the southern North Sea.

The platform was built by Heerema Fabrication Group (HFG) at its Hartlepool fabrication yard.

The development is the Centrica Energy’s third significant greenfield project in as many years, following its Ensign development, also in the southern North Sea, and F3-FA in the Dutch sector, which was the first self-installing platform in the North Sea.

Greg McKenna, regional director – southern North Sea, Centrica Energy, said: “The team is celebrating as first gas is achieved from York, which will produce enough gas to meet the demands of half a million households.

“We have taken this project from investment decision to production in just 24 months, which is testament to the hard work of the project teams in both Centrica Energy and Centrica Storage. We will continue to work closely in the coming weeks as we bring gas onshore to the upgraded Easington Terminal.

“York is our third significant greenfield project in as many years and represents our growing footprint in the Southern North Sea. Looking ahead we have a lot of work still to do. We have already started drilling on York’s second well which, at 6km, is the longest well we have drilled and one of the longest wells in the basin. The platform has been constructed so that it’s able to receive gas from other adjacent fields, so we will continue to explore future opportunities to develop the project further.”

York is 40km east of Humberside in a water depth of 45m.

The 2750 ton unmanned (NUI) platform was built and installed within two years, a new 20-mile pipeline laid and more than 50 pieces of major equipment brought in to upgrade the terminal.