Islay

Islay Gas and Condensate Field

Location

The Islay Gas Field is located in the UK waters of the North Sea, approximately 440 kilometers northeast of Aberdeen.

Depth and Water Conditions

The field is situated in 120 meters of water depth.

Development and Operations

• The Islay Field is part of the Greater Alwyn area, which includes several oil and gas fields.
• The field is developed by Total SA, with plans to proceed with its development announced in 2010.
• The field has a single well that is tied back to the Alwyn North platform.

Geographical and Administrative Context

• The field spans across UK Block 3/15 and Norway Blocks 29/6a and 29/6c.

West Islay Tidal Farm

Location

The West Islay Tidal Farm is located off the west coast of Islay, the fifth largest island in Scotland. The project site is approximately 8 kilometers off the western tip of the island.

Capacity and Phases

• The project is proposed to have a total installed capacity of 400MW, with a phased development plan.
  • The initial phase involves a 6MW demonstration phase.
  • The second phase will have an installed capacity of 30MW.
  • The full capacity of 400MW is planned to be reached through a staged build-out by 2024.

Developers

• The project is being developed by DP Marine Energy (DPME) in partnership with DEME Blue Energy (DBE).

Environmental and Technical Aspects

• The site benefits from high tidal flows, with speeds approaching 8 knots (3 m/s), and a flat seabed with water depths between 35m and 50m.
• Environmental impact assessments (EIA) have been conducted, including seabed benthic studies, sea bird, and marine mammal surveys. These surveys indicate that the development is unlikely to have significant environmental impacts.

Grid Connection

• The project has secured a grid capacity of 30MW.
• The electricity will be transmitted to Kintra on Islay via a subsea cable, then overground to Port Ellen, and finally through another subsea cable to the mainland.

Stakeholder Engagement and Surveys

• Detailed marine surveys and socio-economic assessments have been undertaken since 2009, involving key stakeholders and environmental consultancies.

In summary, there is no "Islay oil project," but rather a gas field in the North Sea and a significant tidal energy project off the coast of Islay, Scotland.