Bacton Gas Terminal

The Bacton Gas Terminal is a large gas terminal found on the North Sea coast in North Norfolk near Paston and between Bacton and Mundesley. The nearest main town is North Walsham. The other main gas terminals are in Aberdeenshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

History

It opened in 1968.

Operation

It consists of five gas terminals. From there, they connect to the National Transmission System or to Belgium via the Interconnector and to the Netherlands via the BBL Pipeline. The gas terminals are run by Royal Dutch Shell, ExxonMobil, Perenco (which took over the BP operations) and [[Tullow Oil](which took over the ConocoPhillips operations)].

Shell

The Shell terminal takes gas from the 474 kilometres (295 mi) long SEAL Pipeline, which connects to the Shearwater and Elgin-Franklin gas fields in the Northern North Sea. The SEAL Pipeline is the longest on the UK Continental Shelf. It employs 46 people and began operations in 1968. It connects to the BBL Pipeline to the Netherlands which became operational in December 2006.

Shell gas fields

Indefatigable and Indefatigable SW

It is owned by Shell and BP. The J field started in September 1971, K started in March 1973, L started in October 1978 and the M platform started in October 1985. Production started in October 1971 and the field was discovered in June 1966. Indefatigable SW was discovered in June 1967 and production started in October 1989.

Leman

It was discovered in August 1966 and is 45 miles from Lowestoft and is jointly owned by Shell and BP and run by Shell. Leman A began production in August 1968. It connected to the Shell terminal. Leman B began production in November 1970. Leman C began in February 1972. Leman D began in August 1974. Leman E opened in August 1983. Leman F and G began in September 1987. The Leman complex of platforms connects to Bacton via Leman A.

Corvette

This connects via the Leman platforms. Run by Shell and owned equally by Shell and Esso. Discovered in January 1996 and production started in January 1999.

Brigantine

This connects via the Leman platforms. It is named after Brigantine, a type of sailing ship. It is owned by Shell and Esso and run by Shell. Brigantine A began was discovered in 1986; B was discovered in 1997; and C was discovered in 1998. All three platforms began production in October 2001.

Sean

These consist of the Sean P and (smaller) Sean R platforms. The Sean North field was discovered in May 1969 and Sean South was discovered in January 1970, and production started in October 1986. It is owned equally by Shell, Esso Exploration & Production UK Ltd, Union Texas and Britoil (BP) but run by Shell. Sean East was discovered in June 1983, with production starting in November 1994.

Clipper

It is part of the Sole Pit complex. It was discovered in March 1968. Production started in October 1990. It is owned by Shell and Esso and run by Shell.

Barque

It is part of the Sole Pit complex. It was discovered in 1971. Production started in October 1990. It is owned by Shell and Esso and run by Shell. It is furthest north of the fields connected to Bacton, being further north of many of the Lincolnshire-connected gas fields.

Galleon

It is part of the Sole Pit complex. Production started in October 1994 and was discovered in September 1969. It is owned by Shell and Esso and run by Shell. Piped to Bacton via Clipper complex.

Shearwater

Run by Shell but owned by 28% by Shell UK Ltd, 28% by Esso Exploration & Production UK Ltd, 28% by ARCO British Ltd, 12% by Superior Oil (UK) Ltd, and 4% by Canadian Superior Oil UK Ltd. Discovered in September 1988 with production starting in September 2000. Connects to Bacton via the SEAL pipeline.

Tullow Oil gas fields

Thames, Yare, Bure, Wensum and Deben

Owned 43% by Tullow Exploration Ltd, 23% by AGIP(UK) Ltd, 23% by Superior Oil(UK) Ltd, and 10% by Centrica Resorces Ltd. Production from all five fields began in October 1986. Thames was discovered in December 1973; Yare in May 1969; Bure in May 1983; and Wensum in October 1985. They are run by Tullow Oil as the Thames complex. Connects to Bacton via the Thames pipeline.

Welland NW & Welland S

Run by Tullow Oil and owned 34% by Tullow Exploration Ltd, 55% by Esso, and 11% by Consort EU Ltd. Welland NW was discovered in January 1984 and Welland S in June 1984. Production started in September 1990. It connects to Bacton via the Thames complex.

Hewett

This field is what was known as Big Dotty, Little Dotty and Deborah. It is owned 19% by Phillips Petroleum Company UK Ltd, 19% by AGIP(UK) Ltd, 11% by Superior Oil(UK) Ltd, 23% by Centrica Resources Ltd, 20% by Tullow Exploration Ltd, and 8% by Lasmo North Sea plc. It was discovered in October 1966 and production started in July 1969. It has two pipelines to Bacton. It is the set of fields nearest to Bacton being 25 miles east of Great Yarmouth. It was run by Phillips Petroleum, which became ConocoPhillips, and is now run by Tullow Oil.

Esso gas fields

Gawain

It is owned by Tullow Exploration Ltd and Esso. It is run by Esso. Discovered in December 1988 with production starting in October 1995. It connects to Bacton via the Thames complex.

Tristan

Run by Esso and owned 60% by Esso and 40& by Superior Oil(UK) Ltd (became part of Esso). Discovered in May 1976 and production started in November 1992. Connects to Bacton via the Welland platform.

Galahad

Run by Superior Oil, now part of Esso. Owned 72% by Superior Oil(UK) Ltd, 15% by Chieftain Exploration UK Ltd, 10% by Premier Pict Petroleum Ltd, and 3% by Chieftain International North Sea Ltd. Discovered in December 1975 and production started in November 1995. Connects to the ConocoPhillips plant at Bacton via the Lancelot platform.

Guinevere

Run by Esso. Owned 25% by Esso, 50% by Superior Oil(UK) Ltd, and 25% by Samedan Oil(UK) Ltd. Discovered in May 1988 and production started in June 1993. Connects to the ConocoPhillips plant at Bacton via the Lancelot platform.

Camelot N and Camelot C & S

Run by Esso, and owned by Esso. Camelot N discovered in November 1967 and Camelot C & S discovered in June 1987. Production started in October 1989. Connects to Bacton via the Leman complex.

Parenco gas fields

Trent

It is owned 61% ARCO British Ltd, 20% by Talisman North Sea Ltd, and 18% by Atlantic Richfield Oil & Gas (St James) Ltd. It was run by ARCO (Atlantic Richfield Company), a subsidiary of BP, and is now run by Perenco. It was discovered in March 1991 and production started in November 1996. It connects to Bacton via the Eagles pipeline.

Orwell

It is owned equally by ARCO British Ltd and Texaco North Sea UK Ltd. It was run by ARCO, a subsidary of BP, and is now run by Parenco. It was discovered in February 1990 with production starting in August 1993. Connects to Bacton via the Thames complex. Furthest east of the Bacton gas fields. Named after the River Orwell.

Tyne South & Tyne North

Furthest north of the Bacton gas fields, around the same latitude north as Teesside. Owned 55% by ARCO British Ltd, 25% by Atlantic Richfield Oil & Gas (St James) Ltd, and 20% by Talisman North Sea Ltd. It was run by ARCO, a subsidiary of BP, and is now run by Perenco. Discovered in January 1992 and November 1996. Connects to Bacton via the Interfield pipeline and Eagles pipeline.

See also

• Easington Gas Terminal

External links

• Tullow Oil
• Interconnector(UK) Ltd
• Shell fields with map of Southern North Sea
• Perenco gas fields in the North Sea

News items

• Protestors arrested in April 2008
• Police protection in January 2007
• Interconnector starts in December 2006
• Arthur field starts in January 2005
• New company BBL formed in July 2004
• Carrack field in February 2003
• Helicopter crash in July 2002