The first cut of steel for a £1.4billion North Sea gas field development was marked at a fabrication yard in north-east England today.
Parts of GDF Suez’ Cygnus development, which will involve four platforms over the southern North Sea field, are being built at Heerema Fabrication Group’s Hartlepool yard.
The first cut of steel was for the 1,600 tonne Cygnus Alpha wellhead platform.
Heerema is in line to fabricate and commission three of the four topsides and a compression module for the development – the largest gas discovery in the southern basin in 25 years.
Some 450 people will be working on the project at the Hartlepool site during 2014, said GDF Suez E&P UK.
The Cygnus partnership is led by operator GDF SUEZ E&P UK, which has a 38.75% stake in the field. Centrica owns 48.75% and Bayerngas has a 12.5% stake.