Despite the fall of oil prices in recent weeks there has been a light at the end of the tunnel for Norfolk and Suffolk's energy sector. They will play a very important role in servicing one of the North Sea's largest gas discoveries of the last 25 years. The Cygnus field which is based off the Lincolnshire coast is estimated to have 18 billion cubic meters of reserves, meeting the energy needs of more than 1.5 million UK households. The project, which was sanctioned in 2012, is expected to contribute to 5% of the UKs gas production.

The Cygnus Project

The Cygnus project began production in 2015 and is the second biggest production site of natural gas when it begins to flow into the terminal at Bacton, Norfolk, later this year. The region's supply chain companies are looking to reap the economic benefits of the £1.4bn project, with logistic boats ferrying equipment from Great Yarmouth and helicopters transferring crew from Norwich. A recent conference held at the Norfolk Showground gave Norfolk and Suffolk supply chain companies the opportunity to pitch for contracts with the site operator GDF Suez E&P.

Keith Murphy, the GDF Suez operations and engineering manager, said: "We see great potential for this area and have used very high grade systems for longevity. We have had to hire people, and when Cygnus is up and running, we will have 35 core crew – which means about 100 people will be supporting us offshore and 25 on the onshore base."

The project will provide more jobs for the energy sector, opening up more opportunities for experienced and skilled individuals in the Norfolk and Suffolk area.

Cygnus switch on

The first well for the project was drilled in 2007, with 50kms of export pipeline installed last year. The infrastructure is now in the final stages of construction, with structures above the water being lifted into place in the coming months. Cygnus is due to come on-stream in 2016 and should remain in production until 2025. However, GDF Suez sees the new facilities as a potentially longer-term hub for other satellite gas structures in the area.

We look forward to hearing more about the Cygnus project and the job opportunities it will bring to the region. If you are currently looking for a career in the energy sector, then visit our vacancies database for more information.