Name and Location
Corrib gas pipeline project, Ireland.

Client
Corrib Gas, comprising Shell E&P Ireland (45% – operator), Statoil Exploration Ireland (36.5%) and Vermilion Energy (18.5%).

Project Description
The Corrib natural gasfield is situated about 83 km off the north-west coast of Ireland, an estimated 3 000 m under the seabed and in waters 350 m deep.

The pipeline from the Corrib field to the gas terminal at Bellanaboy Bridge will be about 90 km long.

About 83 km of this will be offshore, linking the wells at the Corrib field to the landfall at Glengad, with an additional 9 km linking to the terminal at Bellanaboy, County Mayo.

The project comprises the development of:
• the offshore well and subsea infrastructure;
• the offshore pipeline and umbilical;
• the onshore pipeline and umbilical connecting the offshore pipeline and umbilical to the terminal; and
• the gas terminal at Bellanaboy Bridge.

Value
$3-billion

Duration
Commissioning of the terminal gas infrastructure is expected to start in April 2014.

Latest Developments
The offshore subsea infrastructure, the offshore pipeline and the terminal at Bellanaboy Bridge are substantially completed.

Construction of the onshore pipeline, which includes a tunnel under Sruwaddacon Bay, is currently under way. The laying of the offshore umbilical between the landfall at Glengad and the Corrib subsea manifold was completed this year.

However, the project suffered a major setback in October this year after a court quashed a revised licence issued for the refinery terminal at Ballanaboy.

The licence permitted the operation of a gas refinery and combustion installations, with a rated thermal output of 50 MW or higher at Bellanaboy Bridge gas terminal, Bellagelly South.

However, it is now accepted that there were deviations in the way in which an environmental impact assessment (EIA) concerning the terminal development was carried out.

Shell E&P Ireland has said it will examine court developments and fully expects that the “required licences” will be “in place for first gas”.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Shell E&P Ireland communications department, John Egan, tel +353 (0) 1 669 410 or
email info@corribgas.com.