Angus Energy has applied for planning permission to change the layout of its Saltfleetby-B gas site in Lincolnshire. The company also wants to use a larger flare.
A condition of planning permission granted in 2020 required operations to be carried out according to agreed plans.
Angus Energy is now seeking to vary this condition to allow it to:
- Move three generator units from the SE corner to the W side of the extension site
- Install a fourth generator next to the three relocated units
- Remove and reprofile a section of bunding, trees and shrubs, needed to relocate the generators
- Increase the size of the flare to 10.98m long, 12m high and 11m wide
- Remove an area of soil and scrub in the NE corner to accommodate a larger flare
- Install a 7m high condensate tower and condensate stabilisation equipment
- Install additional security and welfare portacabin
- Install three acoustic barriers
- Plant replacement trees and shrubs
Angus said it had revised the capacity for the flare, which meant that larger equipment was needed. The company said:
“The flare must have the capability to manage a flow rate which equals the maximum flow rate of the process facility. This will enable the process facility to depressurise to flare quickly but safely. The previous flare was unable to manage the maximum flow rates of the process facility and subsequently a change in flare design is required for safety reasons.”
Angus said there would not “be any notable adverse effects” from the proposed changes on the environment or local amenity. There would be no changes to the site access, vehicle movements or HGV routes, the company said.
The Saltfleetby field, east of Louth, was discovered in 1996 and produced gas from the Westphalian Sandstones and Namurian reservoirs.
At the time, Saltfleetby was the largest onshore gas field in the UK. Early production rates were more than 50 million standard cubic feet per day. The field, which had a total of eight wells, was shut because of the closure of the Theddlethorpe gas terminal in 2017.
Angus Energy, which has held a 51% share since November 2019, has reconnected the site to the national grid. Earlier this month, the company predicted gas would flow again from the end of February 2022.
Lincolnshire County Council has listed the application to be decided by planning officers under delegated powers, rather than by the planning committee.
Categories: Regulation, slider
DRILL OR DROP? 
Delegated decision making.
No encroachment onto new land. In fact the Generators look to be moving in a more suitable place. The re-design and changes are all within the sites curtilage, cannot see a reason to no proceed with necessary compliance. Good work, we need more onshore Gas Projects coming online for the ultimate Net Zero transitionary support to Geothermal!
All looks as expected.
Old property bought, new bits and pieces before the new owners get fully moved in.
There might even be a new lick of paint.
The exciting bit will be what amount of gas will be produced. The certainty is that it will be expensive gas.
Martin,
Note the need to have a bigger flare due to stringent safety requirements and handle process facility flow rates.
Are we expecting a monster gusher for first few months? Did the recent 3D seismic and small block analysis near wells model potentially higher rates?
Just 2 changes really, the new flare band condensate tower. Otherwise just the odd change of assets to other locations within site boundaries.
Great progress to date. Slow for some, but careful to me.