Gas is one of the most valuable resources hidden in the depths of the earth because it is a perfect fuel. It also gives the country where its deposits more independence, so its development is usually profitable and expedient. The metropolitan county of Merseyside has a lot to be proud of in this regard. Learn more about it at liverpoolname.
General information on oil and gas developments in Merseyside
In general, gas is often mentioned in the context of oil, as in our case. These substances are formed in natural conditions from the same materials. In England, gas plays an important, but not a key, role as a source of energy. The main ones are coal and oil.
Gas production in the North Sea shelf zone was increasing annually until 2000, but after reaching the peak, it began to fall. The total reserves of Liverpool Bay were estimated at more than 34 billion cubic metres of gas. The maximum mining productivity is almost 8.5 million cubic metres per day.
Deposits of the North Sea shelf zone were discovered in the 1970s. The Interconnector gas pipeline was constructed in 1998 and it enabled the export of blue fuel to the continental part of Europe. Its capacity was 20 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year for export and 25 billion cubic metres for import after modification in 2007. In addition to its direct purpose, the gas pipeline plays an important role in the economy.
Development
The Liverpool Bay Development, which is BHP Petroleum’s largest global project, is involved in its development. It consists of four oil and gas fields, as well as important offshore and land facilities for fuel production, transportation and processing. The Point of Ayr gas processing terminal plays a key role in the process.
There are the following oil and gas fields in the North Sea:
- the 3-platform Douglas Complex, located 24 km from the North Wales coast. It is a centre of marine (offshore) development. It is manned 24 hours a day to monitor and track what is happening in all four fields of Liverpool Bay
- the Lennox satellite platform
- the Hamilton satellite platform
- the Hamilton North satellite platform.
About the platforms in detail
The last three platforms are satellite because they are connected to the Douglas Complex by a pipeline and communication systems. They are supplement parts and depend on the main complex. It means that the gas produced in Hamilton, Hamilton North and Lennox is partially processed at the Douglas Complex, and after that, it is sent through a 34-kilometre pipeline to BHP’s state-of-the-art Point of Eyre gas terminal on the coast of North Wales.
Connected to the crew accommodation platform by a 46-metre bridge, there is also the Central Processing Platform. It has eight supports and weighs 10 tons and 715 kg. This platform processes the oil and gas produced in the fields. Two gas turbine generators with a capacity of 42 megawatts each, which is quite a high rate, are placed on the processing platform. They provide electricity to all marine facilities.
Protection and maintenance
All platforms are protected by a no-navigation zone within a radius of 500 to 800 m. The enforcement of this ban is controlled by a radar and one of three auxiliary vessels 24 hours a day.
The platforms are regularly serviced by the mobile and self-elevating Irish Sea Pioneer vessel. It moves around the area for testing, inspection and maintenance. When the ship docks next to the platform, it lowers four giant props to the bottom and then rises to the level of the platform deck. In addition, a bridge connection is installed between the Irish Sea Pioneer and the satellite to enable the engineers’ and technicians’ work.
Storage and equipment
A double-sided vessel, with ten cargo tanks flanked by separate 4.8-metre wide seawater ballast tanks, serves for offshore fuel storage. Security is one of the top priorities here. In addition, it is serviced around the clock by specialised personnel.
No offshore installation in the southern North Sea has permanent drilling equipment. Any of them is temporary, that is, having fulfilled its function, it is moved to other objects.
Safety
Although safety is always a top priority, in fact, it isn’t always possible to avoid such tragic accidents as gas explosions. They more often happen in residential areas, offices or industrial enterprises that are heated by gas. Such an unpleasant incident happened, for example, in the county of Merseyside on March 25, 2017.
As a result, dozens of people were injured and even more were evacuated. A gas explosion occurred in a building that housed a dance studio and a furniture warehouse. The street was considered quiet and peaceful until that day. After this shocking event, the residents of the Port Sunlight village had to be evacuated. In addition, the buildings were fenced off and train traffic was temporarily suspended in the New Ferry area.
Therefore, you must always remember that gas is an explosive substance.