Representation by IOG plc (IOG plc)
- Date submitted
- 10 November 2022
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
IOG North Sea Limited, a subsidiary of IOG plc, is the Licence Administrator and Operator, and a Licence Beneficiary, of UKCS Production Licences P1736 and P2260 (blocks 48/22 and 48/23), containing the Blythe and Elgood gas fields, respectively. The Blythe development includes a normally unmanned offshore production platform with a single production well drilled from the platform. A single subsea well has been developed on the Elgood field, to the north-west of the Blythe installation, and is tied back to the Blythe platform via a 9.1km 6” subsea gas flowline and umbilical. Gas export from the Blythe platform is via a 24.5km 12” gas export pipeline that connects to the Thames (Southwark) 24” gas export pipeline to the south of the Dudgeon Extension Project (North). IOG wishes to build upon the existing good relationship between IOG and Equinor New Energy Limited (Equinor), and wishes to reassert itself as a regional stakeholder and a neighbour to the existing Dudgeon wind farm and the Dudgeon Extension Project. Whilst we welcome the ongoing engagement for our mutual benefit, there are a number of specific considerations that IOG would like to highlight as areas of interest or uncertainty with the proposed Dudgeon Extension Project. These are outlined below, and although not exhaustive, frame the overall risk themes that IOG wishes to manage in collaboration with Equinor throughout the project. Multiple helicopter approach paths are required to allow access to the Blythe platform in varying weather conditions, and for emergency response. We would appreciate consultation between IOG and Equinor, and potentially direct with IOG’s helicopter providers, to ensure our access remains unobstructed. Both the Blythe and Elgood assets are regularly serviced by supply and emergency response / stand-by vessels, therefore, careful coordination is required to ensure IOG can access the Blythe platform and the Elgood well 500m safety zone at all times. Periodic pipeline and seabed surveys are required outside of these safety zones and therefore, coordination is also required to ensure that these operations can continue unimpeded. Line of sight communication is currently in place between the Blythe platform and the Bacton gas terminal. We would appreciate confirmation that this line of communication remains in place and unobstructed by any individual wind turbines of the Dudgeon Extension Project. IOG would be open to discussing alternative communication systems, such as the use of existing optical fibre, that may already be planned by Equinor for its own communication requirements. The appropriate crossing agreements will be required between IOG and Equinor should any of our asset infrastructure be crossed, for instance, inter-turbine (array) cables across gas export pipelines and umbilicals. Any activity undertaken within the Blythe platform 500m safety zone, the Elgood well 500m safety zone, or within the safety zones of the gas export pipelines, will also require an appropriate proximity agreement prior to works execution. IOG looks forward to continuing its discussions with Equinor.