IOG plc said that the current storms had delayed first gas until March from its Saturn Banks gas project in the Southern North Sea.
SATURN BANKS
The Phase 1 project comprises the Blythe, Elgood and Southwark fields in which IOG owns a 50-50 interest with CalEnergy Resources.
STORMY WEATHER
The company said that the Saturn Banks reception facilities preparation for first gas was now 99% complete.
Chief executive Andrew Hockey added that the weather had hampered the final construction and leak testing programme with a knock-on impact on commissioning of the safety instrumentation systems.
“As a result the plant will likely not be ready to start backgassing until the week beginning 28 February, with first gas from both Blythe and Elgood around a week later.
“Albeit frustrating, this delay facilitates a safe and reliable start-up.”
The company said that backgassing operations could start once the terminal operator Perenco UK Ltd (PUK), IOG and its pipeline duty holder ODE Asset Management (ODEAM) had fully signed off the onshore facilities to introduce hydrocarbons safely.
BLYTHE
IOG added that the unsettled weather could also potentially impede operations at the Blythe platform as part of the backgassing and start-up procedures, although the bulk of the work is complete.
HSE INSPECTION
The company is also resolving a number of clarifications raised from a planned Health and Safety Executive inspection.