Page 31 - Gi flipbook March 2018

quantities of natural gas, on 17 24in diameter pipeline was first laid using contractors for the most part.
September, 1965. This would herald a at a point near Sheffield, where it In my particular region, the work was
new era for the gas supply industry; connected with the high pressure more or less completed in January
no longer was it to be a captive pipeline carrying Sahara natural gas 1976, after eight years and four
customer of a fuel competitor. The from Canvey Island to Leeds and months of hard, but enjoyable, work.
Gas Council entered into a contract other regions on its way north. Checking and testing appliances for
to purchase this gas after it had By that time, some 50 wells had safe working, full in the knowledge
been transported ashore, effective been drilled in the North Sea. Of these, that we were at the forefront of
from July 1967. The shore terminal at 16 produced gas, proving there were bringing natural gas to our customers
Easington, a few miles north of Spurn more substantial reserves to be found and keeping costs as low as possible,
Point, and its offshore pipeline, was in the area, although 50 years later it was a great incentive. ■
ready to receive gas by 9 May, 1967. has proved to be a limited asset.
Construction of a second terminal, at Several new innovations were ■ With thanks to the late Ken Golisti
Bacton in Norfolk, commenced in 1967. introduced into the industry. The for some original work xxxxxxx
Natural gas leaving the wellhead now defunct Rough field, some
contained water, liquid hydrocarbons 32km east of Easington, was one
and other impurities, which were of the major new developments to HALIFAX ET AL
removed at the shore terminal. In the emerge from the North Sea story.
interim period, to offset any shortage The field is used to store surplus gas By Barry Wilkinson
in supplies from the North Sea, a gas in the summer months and draw it
liquefaction plant was built at Arzew, out at times of high demand. IN THE EARLY 19th century, the
in Algeria, to handle natural gas from The development progressed from town of Halifax, in West Yorkshire,
the Sahara until the sea became 1982. Another unusual new project for was a growing industrial town
more productive. This was completed gas storage took place near Hornsea, with many mills producing mainly
in 1964. Two tankers were built, East Yorkshire, where five salt cavities woolen textiles and some providing
christened the Methane Princess and were created by pumping heated sea the machinery required for the
the Methane Pioneer, which delivered water into the salt layers and scouring mills. Halifax was a key player
liquid gas to a new storage facility at out the salt to develop gas tight in the area during the Industrial
Canvey Island. They delivered 300,000 storage cavities. Revolution. The gas works
tons per year and a new pipeline was I can also recall the news that played an important part in the
built to deliver the gas to the north of an extensive new gas field named development of the town and I had
the UK, initially as far as Leeds. Frigg had been discovered, in June the pleasure, and the honour, of
The design and location of the 1971. This was to be developed in being the final Works Engineer.
first North Sea terminal was under Norwegian waters and the field I closed the works down in 1969,
the control of BP, who had the connected to the St Fergus terminal, bringing an end to manufactured
initial responsibility for receiving and north of Aberdeen, under an gas production in Halifax after
supplying up to 200 million cubic agreement signed between Norway almost 150 years. In the beginning,
feet of gas per day, at pressures and the UK. The field eventually had many of the local mill owners had
up to 1,350psi – pressures unheard to be closed down in 2004, after 27 produced coal gas to illuminate
of until then. These had to be kept years of successful operation. their workplaces from the early
within stringent parameters at a time There is no doubt that the years of the 19th century. Then, in
when the high pressure transmission development of these and many 1823, a public supply of gaslight
system operated at up to 1,000psi. other North Sea assets, and the initial became available when the
Gas was supplied to the Gas Council decision to supply and convert the gasworks was built. The immediate
within a tight specification, which whole of the country over to natural benefit to the general public was
among other things defined calorific gas, was taken at the right time, when the sudden availability of gas
value, combustion characteristics, the country was facing the prospect lighting for the streets of the town
sulphur, water and hydrocarbon of being pushed into a coal-based and domestic gas light, a comfort
content, temperature and pressure. future and held to ransom over costs for those who could afford it.
Prior to passing into the transmission decided by the suppliers. This situation remained in place
system, an odorant was added to the The conversion exercise covering until the nationalisation of the gas
otherwise odourless gas, in order to the whole country lasted over eight industry, in 1949.
comply with the Gas Act. To connect years, each gas region planning the By July 1865, about 2,000
Easington to the national system, a work required and carrying it out consumers were using gas as an
illuminant and the gas undertaking
was purchased by the Halifax Local
I can also recall the news that an Board of Health. By this time, the
business had grown and supplied
extensive new gas field named Frigg had over 17,000 consumers, almost
been discovered, in June 1971...The field 1,900 street lamps and 64 gas
engines installed in various trades.
eventually had to be closed down in 2004, In the domestic market, there were
about 1,000 gas cooking stoves
after 27 years of successful operation and 500 fires.

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