Carrack

Location

The Carrack Gas Field is located offshore in the Southern North Sea, approximately 75 miles northeast of Bacton off the English coast, close to the UK/Dutch border. The exact coordinates are 53.6047, 2.7824 (WGS 84).

Operator and Ownership

As of its initial development, the field was operated by Shell plc. However, there is an ongoing transfer of operatorship to Viaro Energy (the owner of RockRose Energy), pending regulatory approval.

History

• The field was discovered in 1999.
• Development of the field was granted government approval in 2003.
• First gas production began in 2003.

Infrastructure

• The field utilizes a normally unattended installation (NUI).
• Gas is transported via an 82 km long, 20-inch production pipeline from the Carrack NUI to the Clipper PM platform.

Production

• The field primarily produces gas, with a production volume of approximately 255.71 million cubic meters per year as of 2019.
• There is also a minor production of oil, amounting to about 0.1 million barrels per year as of 2019.

Contractors and Partners

• Key contractors involved in the development include:
  • HSM Offshore: QA Jacket
  • SLP Engineering Ltd: Carrack QA & Clipper PR Platforms
  • Seaway Heavy Lifting: T & I - Carrack QA & Clipper PR Platforms
  • Penspen: Carrack East Detailed Design.

Current Status and Future Plans

• The field is currently operating, but there is a planned transfer of operatorship to Viaro Energy.
• Viaro Energy intends to maximize the volumes extracted while increasing low-emissions production. They also plan to perform feasibility studies on decarbonization of the complex using "clean" technology.

Integration with Other Fields

• The Carrack field is part of a larger complex tied back to the Shell-operated onshore Bacton gas processing terminal. This terminal provides a direct route for gas produced from both the southern and central North Sea to the UK National Transmission system.

Significance

• The Bacton terminal, which processes gas from the Carrack field among others, plays a crucial role in supplying gas to homes and businesses in East Anglia and North London, and is used to generate about 40% of Britain’s electricity.