Allseas installs pipeline for ‘flagship’ Dutch North Sea gas development

Allseas has completed the pipeline installation and post-lay activities for what is said to be a flagship project in the Dutch North Sea led by the Netherlands-based exploration and production player ONE-Dyas.

Under a contract secured at the beginning of 2023, Allseas was in charge of the transport and installation of a 15-kilometer natural gas export pipeline as part of the N05-A natural gas development, which links the N05-A wind-powered platform to the existing Noordgastransport (NGT) pipeline network.

The company’s vessel Lorelay executed the shallow water pipelay operations, pipeline burial and pre-commissioning activities.

“With the swift and safe installation of this pipeline, we’re not only helping ONE-Dyas meet their ambitious first-gas timeline, but we’re also supporting an ambitious energy project that’s crucial for the Netherlands,” said Allseas’ Project Manager, Paul van Haestregt. “This pipeline will deliver reliable and affordable gas to Dutch homes and businesses while also supporting the country’s transition to cleaner energy sources.”

The N05-A development, located about 20 kilometers north of the islands Schiermonnikoog and Borkum, is said to represent the largest Dutch investment in natural gas in over 15 years and aims to deliver a reliable, cleaner energy supply for the Netherlands and Germany.

Following the discovery of the field in August 2017, ONE-Dyas secured the final permits for the gas project in June 2022. The operator, together with partners Hansa Hydrocarbons and EBN, made a final investment decision in September 2022 for the development of the field, revealing an investment of more than €500 million.

This August it was reported that Heerema Marine Contractors’ semi-submersible crane vessel (SSCV) Sleipnir had finished the installation of the platform at the field.

Envisioned to be powered entirely by renewable energy from the 113.4 MW Riffgat offshore wind farm, built by EWE in 2013 as the first commercially operated wind farm in the German part of the North Sea, N05-A is the first electrified gas production platform in the North Sea.

The infrastructure is also designed to support the future development of green hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS).