Project Profile
Value: US$500 million
Location: Southern North Sea, 150km off the coast of Lincolnshire
Start-up Year: 4Q 2015
Upstream Gas Reserves: 535 billion ft³
Water Depth: <25m
The field is located in the UK Southern North Sea Blocks 44/11 and 44/12, in licence areas P1055 & P1731. The Cygnus development is the largest discovery in the Southern Gas basin in the last quarter century. The Cygnus 44/12-2 well has estimated gross reserves of about 18 billion cubic metres. Analysis of the results from Cygnus well data combined with seismic data has led to a reserve estimate in the five appraised fault blocks ranging from a low case of 500 Bcf (14.16 Bcm) to an upside of 1.2 Tcf (33.99 Bcm). Initial production is expected to be at least 200 million cubic feet per day.
The development scheme will take the form of a hub complex. The development is expected to involve four bridge-linked structures - a process platform, an accommodation platform and two wellhead facilities - with a third wellhead platform needed at a later date.
The first phase which will target the eastern part of the field was originally proposed to be tied back via a 27km, 12-in pipeline to the McAdam subsea template. Production will then be exported through an existing pipeline to the Murdoch field centre. The second phase will involve the development of the western part of the field. The detailed development plan calls for two drilling centres, four platforms and initially 10 development wells.
Operators:
ENGIE E&P (formerly GDF Suez): Operator with 38.75% interest
Centrica: 48.75% interest
Bayerngas: 12.5% interest
Contractor:
AMEC: FEED, detailed design contract, and hook up and commissioning support contract
Bifab: Build the jackets plus a 2500 tonne living quarters module and design, procurement, pre-commissioning assistance
Denholm Valvecare: Project management, procurement and technical engineering support of the large subsea valves
Petrofac: Contract for the enhanced construction services and production supervision, as well as the existing pre-operations, operations, maintenance, engineering, and commissioning scope. (contract extended until December 2021 and worth around US$70 million)
Ensco: Drilling contractor
Genesis Oil & Gas Consultants Limited
Heerema Fabrication Group: Fabricate the topsides of three platform
Noble Drilling: Drilling contractor
Proserv: Supply topside control equipment
Saipem: Export line
Seaway Heavy Lifting: Transport and install the platforms and subsea structure
Senergy S&G: will support GDF SUEZ by providing vital onshore survey quality assurance and quality control, as well as positioning management services, for the forthcoming offshore construction phases
Yokogawa Europe Solutions: Supply integrated control and safety systems
Unasys: Contract to supply its ePM completions management software to manage construction close-out, commissioning, and start-up of all project facilities
Asset Guardian Solutions Ltd (AGSL): Key contract by GDF SUEZ E&P UK Ltd. AGSL will provide GDF SUEZ with a customised Asset Guardian tool set, its fully configurable process software management programme which will enhance management and security of all process control software that GDF SUEZ will use to manage all assets associated with the Cygnus Project
Subcontractors:
SNC-Lavalin: Detailed design for the four jackets for Bifab