Shell starts pumping Clipper South field gas

Oil giant Shell has informed it has started to supply natural gas from the Ineos and Spirit Energy-owned Clipper South field, into the UK gas network via Shell’s Clipper hub in the southern North Sea. The Clipper field is located in the southern part of the UK sector of the North Sea in the Sole Pit area.

According to Shell, under a new commercial agreement with Ineos and Spirit Energy, Shell is remotely operating the Clipper South field and transporting the gas through the Clipper hub for processing at Shell’s Bacton terminal in Norfolk. The gas is then fed into the UK National Grid.

The unmanned Clipper South platform had relied upon the Lincolnshire Offshore Gas Gathering System (LOGGS) and Theddlethorpe gas terminal to transport its gas to shore. The new Clipper hub to Bacton route will help ensure its continued operation after the planned decommissioning of those assets, Shell said.

“Our Clipper hub and upgraded terminal at Bacton are helping to maximize the recovery of gas from the UK North Sea,” said ONEGas Asset Manager, Anne O’Halloran. “We are keen to partner with other companies on similar agreements to help supply gas to homes and businesses across the country.”

Shell and ExxonMobil completed a £300 million rejuvenation project at the Bacton gas terminal in 2017, enabling it to handle more gas from offshore fields, Shell said.

The Clipper hub is located approximately 41 miles (66 kilometers) from the Norfolk coast and can transport up to 400 million standard cubic feet of gas a day.  It produces and processes gas from its own wells, and imports and processes gas from the Barque, Galleon, Skiff, Cutter, and Carrack fields. It is a normally attended installation that comprises five fixed-bridge linked platforms.