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Shetland Islands Regional Gas Export (SIRGE) Pipeline

The SIRGE pipeline system runs from the Shetland Gas Plant in Sullom Voe to a subsea tie-in on our FUKA pipeline at the MCP-01 bypass valves.
Sirge

The 234km-long pipeline transports gas from the emerging west of Shetland frontier to the UK mainland market, and is jointly owned by four parties:

Company Equity interest Equivalent nominal capacity (mmscf/d)
NSMP Operations Limited 67.04% 446
INEOS E&P (UK) Limited 18.26% 121
Chevron Britain Limited 7.18% 48
Ithaca SP E&P Limited 7.52% 50
TOTAL 100% 665

Each owner has full commercial control over their equity share. They offer capacity to third parties using standard technical and individual commercial terms. Accessing the SIRGE Pipeline is initiated through a Service Request sent to any system owner. A Capacity Access Agreement with the FUKA Owner allows third parties to use the SIRGE/FUKA infrastructure.

Contact Stuart Horne, Asset Director to discuss your requirements

Shetland

Process

Direct tie-in to the SIRGE pipeline from offshore facilities is via an onshore tee in the vicinity of the Shetland Gas Plant.

Tie-in is also available at one of the pre-installed hot tap tees along the subsea pipe route. Tie-ins at MCP-01 bypass valve on the FUKA pipeline are achieved with two 12-inch sub-sea tie-ins. Based on current long-term price expectations and investor indications, the infrastructure is expected to operate into the 2040s.

SIRGE
SIRGE

Benefits

Access

Via multiple mid line direct tie-in locations or via existing connected third party infrastructure.

Facilities

100% historical availability, with direct onward access to our FUKA system for efficient redelivery of gas and NGLs under our end-to-end management.

Operatorship

NSMP Operating responsibility within the SIRGE Asset Owner group providing seamless and efficient management of the integrated SIRGE and FUKA system and onward route to market.

SIRGE Benefits

Available capacity

The SIRGE System’s ullage profile varies by gas contract year, and potential modifications may expand capacity/ullage.

This profile is for the SIRGE Pipeline, from the Shetland Gas Plant entry point to the FUKA tie-in at the MCP-01 bypass valves and does not encompass infrastructure beyond these points.

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028
Availablity

> 25% 5% - 25% < 5%

Technical specifications

Tech Specs
Length of pipeline 234 km (including 6 km onshore from SGP to Firths Voe)
Diameter of pipeline 30”
Capacity of pipeline 665 mmscf/d
When commissioned February 2016
Availability 100%
Start point Shetland Gas Plant
End point FUKA pipeline at the MCP-01 bypass valves

The onshore section of the pipeline stretches 6km from inside the Shetland Gas Plant fence to the landfall at Firths Voe. The facilities at the Shetland Gas Plant consists of a pig launcher, HIPPS (High Integrity Pressure Protection System) and beach valve. No processing or compression services are available from SIRGE to meet the SIRGE entry specification.

The offshore route continues eastwards until reaching a point to the East of the Out Skerries. Here it heads southwards before tying-in subsea to the FUKA system at the MCP-01 bypass valves. The offshore route is 228.5km in length. Third party tie-in points are available at the Shetland Gas Plant (SGP) onshore Shetland, plus the two pre-installed hot-tap tees.

All gas entering the export pipeline will be expected to meet the following Entry Specification.

  • Gas Condition Cricondenbar, 106 bara. As calculated by the Peng Robinson equation of state or such alternative method as may be agreed from time to time. 
  • Pressure < 163.8 barg 
  • Temperature -5°C to 35°C 
  • Water Content < 24 Kg per Mscm H2S Content < 2.3 ppm 
  • Total Sulphur Content < 15 ppm expressed as H2S 
  • C02 Content < 3.8% mole 
  • O2 Content < 7.5 ppm 
  • Mercury Maximum mercury content of 0.01 micrograms per Standard Cubic Metre, unless otherwise agreed 
  • Mercaptans < 1.0 ppm Vol 

Natural Gas shall be commercially free from objectionable odours and from materials and dust or other solid or fluid matter, waxes, gums and gum forming constituents which might cause injury to, or interference with, the proper operation of the lines, meters, regulators or other appliances or facilities through which it flows.

No chemicals or other substances may be introduced by any means into the Natural Gas, which might be carried over into the Pipeline without the prior agreement of SIRGE Owners, such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld.

Natural Gas must be capable of being processed to meet National Grid Gas redelivery specification on Wobbe Index, Incomplete Combustion Factor, and Soot Index. The above specification may be subject to change in the future as a result of different requirements from regulators, or governmental authorities, not within the control of the SIRGE Owners.

At the SIRGE System redelivery point, gas will enter the NSMP-owned and operated FUKA pipeline. For new volumes to be transported within the SIRGE System, and access capacity in FUKA, the following process will be followed:

1. Following receipt of a Service Request to transport new volumes in SIRGE, a SIRGE Owner will submit a Capacity Request on behalf of the new Volume Owner to FUKA.

2. The FUKA Owner will respond to the SIRGE Owner within 30 days of receipt to confirm or reject the Capacity Request. The SIRGE Owner will communicate this decision to the new Volume Owner.

3. If the Capacity Request has been accepted by the FUKA Owner the new Volume Owner would enter into negotiations with FUKA to agree a Transportation and Processing Agreement for the redelivery of sales gas at St Fergus.

Our assets: critical infrastructure in and around the North Sea

SIRGE Pipeline
SIRGE Pipeline
FUKA Pipeline
FUKA Pipeline
St. Fergus Gas Terminal
St. Fergus Gas Terminal
Teesside Gas Processing Plant
Teesside Gas Processing Plant
Risavika Liquefaction Plant
Risavika Liquefaction Plant