Senergy wins major Dutch gas storage design deal

AN ABERDEEN-based energy services firm is to help design a pioneering gas storage facility in the Netherlands after securing a contract believed to be worth six figures.

Senergy secured the deal with Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) to work on an underground natural gas storage project aimed at enhancing the security of energy supply in the Netherlands and other parts of Europe.

The energy services company, established in 2005, will work on TAQA's pioneering Bergermeer Gas Storage project in Alkmaar, which will be Europe's largest third-party access natural gas storage plant.

The facility will have an initial working volume of 4.1 billion cubic metres, and commercial operations are scheduled to begin in 2013. Senergy's involvement will focus on drilling 14 wells, providing front-end engineering and design verification, and detailed design for managed pressure drilling services.

Peter Taylor, director of engineering at Senergy, said: "The contract plays to our core strengths of technical expertise and innovation, underpinned by our growing experience in gas storage projects.

"It also strengthens our presence in continental Europe, which further supports our strategy for international growth."

The announcement comes days after Senergy signed an collaboration agreement with Centrica Energy Upstream to provide well engineering and operations management across Centrica's oil and gas operations. The five-year deal is expected to be worth more than 10 million, dependent on the amount of support required by Centrica.

Daren Wallwork, vice-president of energy services at Senergy, said: "In our experience, working in a partnership arrangement where we are closely aligned to the needs of our client is the most efficient, rewarding and successful way of doing business.

"We are delighted to be working with Centrica in this manner as they continue to develop their business in the UKCS."