The new UK Energy Minister Brian Wilson has given the go-ahead to the GBP 200 million development of five natural gas discoveries in the North Sea. The operator Conoco and its partners are further developing the Caister Murdoch System through the GBP 207 million project known as CMS III by combining their resources into a single project. This innovative way of working has been fostered by PILOT and the project is expected to come to fruition at the end of 2002 when the first natural gas comes on shore. The CMS III project will consist of two main elements. These are: (1) a GBP 147 million satellites development, comprising subsea wellheads, flowlines and control systems required to produce natural gas back to the Murdoch platform for processing, and (2) GBP 60 million separate accommodation platform and a new compression module for the Murdoch field. Enhanced compression facilities will cater for the CMS III production and provide capacity for future natural gas developments in the area.
