Energy / Design work underway on new mercury removal plant
DESIGN work is underway on a proposed new mercury removal facility at the Shetland Gas Plant.
The large piece of infrastructure is needed for the Glendronach gas discovery west of Shetland, which is not yet producing – but a final investment decision only is expected later this year.
Upcoming tenders for some of the offshore work for Glendronach are listed by the government’s industry arm North Sea Transition Authority.
The mercury removal project had been shelved in 2017 following a decision not to develop Glendronach due to the high levels of mercury in the gas resource and the low gas price at the time, but it is now back on.
It represents continued investment in the oil and gas sector in the transition to net zero.
An update on the Shetland Gas Plant, which is operated by TotalEnergies, was given to members of Delting Community Council at a recent meeting.
Draft minutes from the meeting highlighted that work on the mercury removal plant could start later this year by Petrofac.
The gas plant – located next to the Sullom Voe oil terminal and opened in 2016 – currently links to the Laggan-Tormore, Edradour and Glenlivet offshore fields. It is transported to Shetland through a 140km pipeline.
The gas is then treated and piped south to the Scottish mainland.
The draft minutes from the meeting say it produces five million mᶾ of gas per day, and four per cent of the UK daily production goes through the terminal.
The Delting Community Council meeting heard that the plant has the best safety in its class and is the safest site in the UK.
It has had 18 months with no incidents, and in April there was one minor first aid case.
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