Morecambe Hub Gas Fields

Summary Information

• Operator: Spirit Energy
• Country: UK
• Location: East Irish Sea
• Production start:
• Partners:
• Type: Gas
• Estimated Reserves:
• Production Volume:

Description

• The Morecambe Hub comprises three fields in the East Irish Sea - North Morecambe, South Morecambe and Rhyl. The fields lie approximately 25km south west of Walney Island, across blocks 110/2a, 110/3a, 110/8a and 113/27b, in water depths that range from 17 to 35m.
• The South Morecambe gas field is one of the UK’s largest fields
• The **Central Processing Complex** is a three-platform, bridge-linked complex with a flare boom tower
  • In the centre of the complex is the Central Production Platform (CPP).
  • The import pipelines from the four satellite platforms terminate here, and the gas/condensate export pipeline begins at the CPP
  • Located at the western end of the complex, AP1 is the accommodation platform
  • At the eastern end of the complex, DP1 is the Drilling platform.
  • In addition, production units DP3, DP4, DP6 and DP8 are also connected
  • It has risers from eight wells, plus a flexible import riser and control umbilical to Bains
• Gas is exported to the Rampside Gas Terminal
• The North Morecambe gas field consists of a single normally unmanned small steel platform
• The Rivers, Millom and Dalton Gas Fields, operated by ConocoPhillips, are tied back to the normally-unmanned North Morecambe platform.
• Gas from the Rhyl Gas Field is also transported via the North Morecambe platform

Contractors

• South Morecombe
• **Haverton Hill:** Construction of Morecambe platform modules
• **Heerema Marine Contractors:** Installation of CPP, DP3, DP4, DP6 & DP8
• **FoundOcean:** Grouting for CPP, DP1, DP3, DP4, DP6, DP8, AP1 and Flare Tower
• North Morecombe
• **Heerema Marine Contractors:** North Morecambe platform
• **McDermott-ETPM:** Subsea installations
• **Subsea 7:** DPPA Platform
• **FoundOcean:** Grouting for DPPA Platform

History

• 1974 - South Morecambe Gas Field discovered
• 1976 - North Morecambe Gas Field discovered
• 1982 - Government approval granted for South Morecambe
• 1985 - First gas produced from South Morecambe
• 1989 - DP6 and DP8 platforms installed
• 1992 - Government approval granted for North Morecombe
• 1994 - First gas produced from North Morecombe
• 2009 - The Rhyl field was first discovered
• 2013 - First gas from Rhyl
• 2017 - Spirit energy becomes the operator
• 2021 - DP3 and DP4 platforms were removed

Links

1. UK Oil and Gas Fields by Approval Date
2. List Of Oil and Gas Production Platforms In The UK
3. FoundOcean Subsea References
4. International Protective Coatings Platform References
5. Serimax Pipeline References
6. Centrica Energy delivers first production from Rhyl gas field
7. Spirit Energy launched following completion of Centrica and Bayerngas Norge E&P joint venture
8. Disused Gas Platforms To Be Removed By World’s Largest Vessel