TotalEnergies’ North Sea mega gas project at full tilt after overcoming obstacles

TotalEnergies EP Danmark, a subsidiary of France’s energy giant TotalEnergies, has tucked a new milestone under its belt by reaching full technical capacity at its natural gas redevelopment project in the Danish sector of the North Sea and will focus on gradually boosting output to achieve maximum production before ringing in the new year.

The members of the Danish Underground Consortium, which consists of TotalEnergies EP Danmark (operator, 43.2%), BlueNord (36.8%), and Nordsøfonden (20%), have confirmed that all necessary machines at the new Tyra II facility are now ready for full operation after the full technical capacity was achieved. This paves the way for a gradual increase to maximum production before the end of the year.  

Following the first gas export from the Tyra II to Denmark in March 2024, challenges related to two transformers supplying power to the vital gas compressors delayed full commissioning. As repairs moved forward ahead of the timeline, progress was made in commissioning activities, thus, the full technical capacity was anticipated to be reached between November 5th and 15th, subject to remaining operational uncertainties.

Ole Hansen, CEO of TotalEnergies EP Denmark, commented: “I am very happy that the new Tyra plants have now achieved full technical capacity. Thanks to a great effort from everyone involved, we have solved the challenges and carried out the necessary repairs before the winter season.

“Our priority is now to get Tyra up to full production in a safe way and make Denmark a net exporter of gas again. With an expected production of 2.8 billion cubic meters per year, Tyra will play an important role in ensuring energy security and independence for Denmark and Europe.”

Therefore, the firm is putting all the required pieces in place to establish the gas flow from the Tyra field and the surrounding satellite fields to achieve full production from the Tyra hub. While Denmark is said to be a leader in green energy development, TotalEnergies underlines that almost 50% of the country’s energy consumption is still covered by oil and gas.

However, dependence on these two fossil fuels is perceived to be even greater at the European level, with gas imports from Russia still being significant. Once Tyra has reached a production plateau, it is expected to amount to approximately 6% of the European Union’s natural gas production, making Denmark once again a net exporter of gas.

Miriam Lykke, Chief Operating Officer of BlueNord, remarked: “I am very pleased that Tyra II has achieved full technical capacity, and we can begin the ramp-up to plateau production before the winter season. The benefits of restarting Tyra II extend beyond increased gas production. With Tyra’s upgraded facilities, we expect a significant reduction in CO2 intensity and a lower unit operating cost.”

Tyra, described as Denmark’s largest natural gas field, was the center for processing and exporting more than 90% of the natural gas produced in the Danish part of the North Sea before it was rebuilt. The overhaul was deemed necessary due to the field’s natural subsidence of the chalk reservoir after many years of production.

The redevelopment of the Tyra field entailed three main elements: decommissioning and recycling the old Tyra platforms; reuse and 13-meter extension of the existing legs on six platforms, which have new topsides; a completely new process module and a new residential platform.

According to the operator, Tyra II will ensure continued production of natural gas with 30% less CO2 emissions than before the shutdown and will contribute to energy security and independence in Denmark and Europe through the export pipelines to Nybro and Den Helder.

Recently, TotalEnergies made a new gas condensate discovery at a well in the Harald East area, which will be exported through the Tyra facilities. The firm has been busy with multiple projects, including an oil one for which it recently reached a final investment decision (FID) off the coast of Suriname.