Shell Working to Fix Gas Disruption at Corrib Field

 

Due to a technical problem at the Shell-operated Bellanaboy Bridge gas terminal in Ireland, unodourised gas entered the network, forcing GNI to ask local customers to switch off their gas meters on Sept. 22-23, a Shell spokesperson said.

 

Unodourised gas cannot be easily detected as it cannot be smelt. Normally odourants are added before the gas reaches customers so people can detect gas leaks by scent. Undetected gas can lead to an explosion or fire.

 

Gas output from the Corrib field has been reduced by 9.9 million cubic metres daily as Shell and GNI are removing the unodourised gas from the network. The reduction is being extended daily, industry data shows.

 

"Work is ongoing to remove a quantity of unodourised gas, which entered the GNΙ network ... flaring has occurred at the Bellanaboy Bridge Gas Terminal to remove the gas in a safe and controlled manner," the spokesperson said.

 

Shell and GNI have been working to route the unodourised gas back to Corrib, where disposal is taking place. The cause of the incident is unclear but an internal investigation is under way, the spokesperson said.

 

At peak production, Corrib Gas can meet up to 60 percent of Ireland’s gas needs, providing the country with a secure energy supply for up to 20 years, according to Shell data.

 

The Corrib gas field, operated by Shell, lies some 83 km (52 miles) off the northwest coast of Ireland, about 3 km under the seabed and in waters 350 metres deep.

 

In July, Shell said it would sell its 45 percent stake in the Corrib gas venture to a unit of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for up to $1.23 billion, marking the oil company's exit from the upstream business in Ireland.


(Reporting by Lefteris Karagiannopoulos in Oslo; Editing by Alister Doyle and Dale Hudson)