Cygnus module sets sail for southern North Sea

METHIL, Scotland -- One of the largest oil and gas topsides built this year has set sail from Burntisland Fabrication’s Methil yard, near Edinburgh, Scotland.

The 4,600 tonne Cygnus accommodation module, together with a 3,400 tonne wellhead jacket and piles, are en route to Cygnus gas field, 150 km off the Lincolnshire coast.

The sail away marks the safe and successful completion of two major contracts by the Fife fabricator on behalf of the gas field’s operator, GDF SUEZ E&P UK Ltd (part of the ENGIE Group), and its partners, Centrica Energy and Bayerngas.

The contract to design and construct four jackets, complete with piles, was signed in August 2012.

The first three jackets, totaling 7,935 tonnes, were completed in the summer of 2014 and have already been installed on site. The fourth and final jacket was completed by the Fife fabricator earlier this year, and has been stowed in Dundee ready for deployment in tandem with the accommodation module.

The accommodation module contract award was announced by then UK Energy Minster Ed Davey in Aberdeen in May 2013. The new module will be home to 66 workers and comprises living quarters, a helideck, and fire and rescue facilities.

Cygnus field is the largest discovery in the Southern Gas basin in the last 25 years. It will be the UK’s second-largest operating gas field, accounting for around 5% of the UK’s gas production.