Conceptual study to assess the reuse of the Kinsale Energy Platform facilities as a renewable energy gathering and export facility

Project Description

This project is a conceptual study to establish the viability of the conversion and reuse of the Kinsale Head facilities as a renewable energy hub. The Kinsale Gas Field facilities comprise two offshore production platforms (i.e. jackets and topsides) and associated subsea infrastructure (e.g. pipelines, manifolds, trees, etc), located approximately 50km off the coast of Cork. The Field is expected to become due for decommissioning in the next 5 years. Decommissioning is likely to entail the complete removal of the platforms (jackets and topsides). The jacket structures are an “asset” that has a relatively small commercial value if removed and decommissioned yet would be extremely costly should something similar be required to be re-installed in the future. Therefore, the objective of this project is to assess a concept that retains the jackets as an asset of “national importance”. The proposed concept considers adapting the jackets for use as an energy hub supporting future renewable energy projects. Such adaption is not expected to preclude the possible reuse of the jackets in the future for any oil/gas related project. The outcomes of this project can been seen in the Research Project Report.