UK Centrica Re-routes S Morecambe Gas

UK utility Centrica has completed a 1.1-km pipeline from its South Morecambe terminal to its North Morecambe terminal in Barrow, Lancashire.

"Now complete, all gas produced offshore at the Morecambe fields will be processed by the North Morecambe Terminal before going into the National Grid’s national transmission system," the company said March 9.

The two terminals use different methods for cooling the gas to reduce the pressure before injection into the pipeline system. The South Morecambe terminal used Freon, whose sale has been prohibited since the start of last year. Centrica had enough reserves to last until the middle of this year, it told NGE. At the North Morecambe terminal, Centrica uses silicon beads, which have the same effect as Freon.

The two Morecambe Bay fields have been producing gas for decades and were a key part of the supply portfolio as the pressure allowed them to be used as swing producers. But South Morecambe began 31 years ago and North Morecambe 22 years ago and although Centrica expects production to continue until the 2030s, the pressure has sunk.

In the past two years, it has spent over £100mn on the facilities and related offshore infrastructure. The latest project cost £80mn (€103.4mn), including upgrading work at the North Morecambe terminal.

William Powell