Shell U.K. Ltd, a subsidiary of Shell plc, has completed the restart of operations at the Pierce field in the U.K.’s central North Sea, following a major upgrade to produce gas after years of oil-only production.
Pierce is a joint venture between Shell (operator, 92.52%) and Ithaca Energy (UK) Limited (7.48%). Substantial modifications have been made to the Haewene Brim floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO), which is used to produce hydrocarbons in the Pierce field. A new subsea gas export line has also been installed, connecting to the SEGAL pipeline system, which brings gas onshore at St Fergus, north of Aberdeen.
Shell fully committed to the UK North Sea
Zoe Yujnovich, Shell’s Upstream Director, said, “The completion of this major project demonstrates Shell’s long-standing commitment to the UK North Sea. We made this investment decision in 2019, and it now increases locally produced gas production at a time when this additional supply is critical to the UK’s energy security. It is a source of great satisfaction when projects like Pierce come to fruition.”
To allow for the upgrade, the FPSO, which is owned and operated by Bluewater, ceased production in October 2021. It then spent six months in dry dock where it was converted into a vessel that could also produce gas, which had previously been reinjected into the reservoir. Maximum production is expected to reach 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, more than double the previous production, with more gas produced than oil. The gas will be sent through the newly installed subsea pipelines and the oil will be transported by tanker, as before.
Shell in line with UK energy policy
The field upgrade is in line with the UK Government’s North Sea Transition Agreement and Shell’s Powering Progress strategy, providing the energy people need today while helping to fund investment in the low carbon energy system of the future.
Other recent projects in the UK include Shell’s plans to develop floating offshore wind in Scotland, which could provide clean energy to power the equivalent of 6 million homes, the Jackdaw gas field, as well as our commitment to developing the UK’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
