Centrica selects Wood to service Southern North Sea gas storage

Wood has secured project management work on the UK’s biggest – and recently reopened – gas storage site.

In addition to servicing the Rough facility, the Aberdeen firm will oversee the Easington Gas Terminal in East Yorkshire.

Centrica has handed Wood a five-year contract to manage its Southern North Sea operations.

That includes the provision of engineering, procurement and construction solutions, as well as operations and maintenance services.

Rough, which comprises two offshore platforms linked to Easington, was recently revived by British Gasowner Centrica to bolster UK energy security.

About 17 miles off Yorkshire, the storage site previously accounted for 70% of Britain’s natural gas storage but was wound down in 2017 after state backing was pulled.

It can hold capacity for about 10 days of domestic demand when full, making it a key asset as the UK seeks to dodge winter blackouts amid a European energy shortage.

Centrica Storage managing director Martin Scargill said: “This is a long-term strategic partnership that will help us deliver our plans to provide energy resilience to the UK while driving forward the transition to net-zero.

“Centrica Storage, Wood and our supply chain partners are committed to protecting and growing skilled jobs.”

In recent months, Wood has supported the significant engineering designs and modifications required to enable Rough to store up to 30 billion cubic feet of gas.

Its scope also includes working with Centrica Storage to support its ambition to drive the UK’s clean energy transition.

In the long run, there are plans to overhaul Rough to turn it into the world’s biggest hydrogen storage facility.

To support this latest contract – the value wasn’t given – Wood plans to expand its engineering office in Hull, securing around skilled jobs.

This expansion will also drive the company’s growth in the Humberside area, which has been identified as a key industrial hub for the UK’s net-zero ambitions.

Wood Europe, Middle East and Africa president of operations Ellis Renforth added: “We are delighted to have secured this contract with Centrica Storage.

“Our teams will draw upon our expertise in brownfield modifications and decarbonisation solutions to ensure efficient, reliable and responsible operations of the Rough gas field and Easington Gas Terminal, helping to strengthen the UK’s energy supply as well as enable the next phase of their energy transition journey.

“This award also brings an opportunity to expand our operations in Hull and the Humberside area.”

The Rough site lies 17 miles off the Yorkshire coast.