Shell submits revised Jackdaw environmental plan
Global major Shell said March 18 it had submitted an updated environmental development plan to the UK offshore protection regulator for its Jackdaw gas project in the UK North Sea.
Drilling at the ultra-high pressure and high temperature project could start in the third quarter of this year, and would be completed by the end of 2023 if regulatory consent is secured, according to the project summary.
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By the second half of 2024, Shell anticipates that Jackdaw would be ready to pump its first hydrocarbons.
Its new submission to offshore regulators envisages there being "no environmental or social-economic impacts" after mitigation measures are implemented." While "incremental emissions" will accrue from Jackdaw's development, Shell's concept is aimed at realising a minimal carbon footprint "as far as reasonable", and from "day one of operations."
Further measures will protect the platform and its associated wells from discharging cementing chemicals, bore clean fluids and other contaminants that harm marine ecosystems. A soft start procedure of 50 minutes for installing the Jackdaw platform jacket should lessen the risk of aquaculture injuries caused by noise levels, Shell added.
"This environmental state, based on an assessment of significant adverse effects, finds that the Jackdaw development would not cause any significant long-term adverse impact to the environment," the report added.
During development, four wells will be drilled from Jackdaw's well head installation, which would operate on a "not permanently attended" basis. Extracted gas and condensate would be moved to the Shearwater fixed manned installation, some 30km northwest of Jackdaw, via a subsea pipeline.
Situated in blocks 30/02a, 30/03a DEEP and 30/02d in the Central North Sea, Jackdaw could hold reserves of between 120mn and 250mn barrels of oil equivalent.
UK offshore regulators rejected the initial development proposals in October 2021 due to environmental concerns. While sources told Reuters the regulator failed to provide grounds for the dismissal, Shell in any case said it would introduce "proposed changes" to the framework.