Highlights:

• Bacton gas terminal selected by the UK Oil & Gas Authority as potential hydrogen production site for London and the South Eastern UK
• The Bacton gas terminal is Hartshead’s planned natural gas processing plant 
• Natural Gas is set to play a key role in unlocking the hydrogen potential in the UK
• Blue Hydrogen will be generated using natural gas feedstock via methane reformation
• Fast tracking natural gas development, combined with hydrogen and other energy solutions is seen as critical, given the current energy crisis the UK is facing

Bacton Catchment Area: Energy Hub integration with various offshore installations illustrating their potential role in future hydrogen generation. (Source: UK OGA). 

Hartshead Resources has been selected to participate in several Special Interest Groups (SIGs) established by the UK Oil & Gas Authority (OGA) as part of the Bacton Energy Hub initiative focussed on future hydrogen generation at the Bacton gas terminal, where Hartshead intends to process its natural gas production. 

The UK Southern Gas Basin, together with the Bacton gas terminal and offshore wind power infrastructure, form the Bacton Catchment Area (figure 1). The area has been the focus of a recent study by the OGA to consider how the Bacton Catchment Area could be developed into an energy and infrastructure hub for future hydrogen generation as part of the UK’s decarbonisation efforts and 2050 net zero target.  

As part of Hartshead’s multi-phased development of four gas fields in the Southern Gas Basin, combined with additional near field exploration prospects, the Company has the potential to deliver more than 0.5 Tcf to the Bacton gas terminal following targeted first gas from its Phase I assets.  

Hartshead’s gas developments could provide material volumes of natural gas feedstock into the Bacton Energy Hub for blue hydrogen generation and the Company’s future offshore infrastructure potentially used in CCS and electrification projects.

The OGA study has confirmed that there is a significant economic opportunity for a hydrogen-led energy hub centred at Bacton that will play a leading role in the UK’s energy future which focusses on the following elements:

• Blue Hydrogen: Using natural gas feedstock from existing and undeveloped gas fields to produce hydrogen via methane reformation;
• Carbon Capture & Storage: Depleted gas fields or suitable reservoirs to be used for the injection and storage of CO2 generated as a by-product from Blue Hydrogen production;
• Green Hydrogen: Integration of new and existing wind turbines into the Bacton Energy Hub to produce hydrogen via electrolysis;
• Electricity: Generation of electricity from wind turbines to provide power to the UK grid and offshore installations in the Southern Gas Basin.

The following SIGs have been established by the OGA to assist in the development of the Bacton Energy Hub and to act as a forum for the energy companies and other stakeholders in the Bacton Catchment Area to bring together their collective expertise and experience for the benefit of the future energy and hydrogen hub at Bacton:

• Hydrogen Demand;
• Hydrogen Supply;
• Infrastructure;
• Regulatory;
• Skills & Technology.

Given the experience of the Hartshead team in delivering Southern Gas Basin projects the Company has much to contribute the SIGs as well as the importance of Hartshead being involved in discussions with various stakeholders regarding the future development of infrastructure critical to the Southern Gas Basin and the development of the Company’s assets. The OGA has proposed that Hartshead will act in a Contributor role to the Hydrogen Supply, Infrastructure and Regulatory Affairs SIGs with the Company being represented at the SIGs by Jeff Barnes (Project Developments Manager) and Steve Roser (Commercial Manager).

Chris Lewis, CEO, commented: 
“We are encouraged by Hartshead’s selection in the SIGs and the opportunity to play a part in the UK’s energy future through the production of natural gas produced from our existing and undeveloped gas fields and the option for this gas to be used as feedstock in blue hydrogen.”

KeyFacts Energy: Hartshead UK country profile