ENGINEERINGNET.EU -- Following the UK’s largest gas discovery in the last 25 years, GDF Suez has started the development of two major offshore projects in the North Sea, called 'Cygnus' and 'Juliet'.
Cygnus is located in the Southern North Sea, 150 km off the coast of England and will be operated by GDF Suez (38.75%), with partners Centrica Energy (48.75%) and Bayerngas (12.5%).
With reserves amounting to approximately 18 billion cubic meters, Cygnus is the sixth largest gas field in the UK by remaining reserves. The project will require 1.7 billion euros of investment and deliver 4,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction phase.
The development concept for the Cygnus field consists of two drilling centres, four platforms and initially ten development wells.
GDF Suez now has awarded the Dutch subsidiary of Yokogawa Electric the engineering contract to supply the integrated Control and Safety Systems – ICSS - for the entire Cygnus project.
The complete ICSS will comprise process control, process shutdown, emergency shutdown, fire & gas detection (complete with associated field devices), process data historian, and field device asset management. Production is expected to start from the new facilities in late 2015.
The contract is in line with Yokogawa's 'Evolution 2015' mid-term business plan in which the company has designated the upstream oil and gas sector as an area of focus.
BACKGROUND
GDF Suez E&P UK Ltd is a significant player in oil and gas exploration and production in the UK Continental Shelf. Since entering the region in 1997, the company has built up a substantial portfolio of assets in the Central and Southern North Sea, and West of Shetland, comprising over 40 licenses, 16 as operator. The company employs more than 250 staff and contractors in offices in London and Aberdeen.
