Neptune Energy has acquired a 38.75 per cent equity interest from Spirit Energy in the Pegasus West discovery and surrounding acreage (P1724, P1727, P4257 and P2128) in the UK Southern North Sea.

Pegasus West was discovered in 2014 and is currently operated by Spirit Energy.

Neptune said that its entry into the Pegasus West Area aligns with the company’s interests in both the discovery and the Neptune-operated Cygnus gas facility (Neptune Energy 38.75 per cent and operator, Spirit Energy 61.25 per cent), and would enable the acceleration of the development of Pegasus West as a subsea tieback to the existing Cygnus field.

Neptune will work closely with Spirit Energy on front end engineering and design (FEED) studies in 2021 with the intention to reach a final investment decision by year-end.

Once sanctioned, Neptune would become operator of the development through to first gas and into production.

Neptune Energy’s Managing Director in the UK, Alexandra Thomas, said: “The alignment of interests with Spirit Energy in the Pegasus West development offers material benefits of faster development, lower costs and lower carbon intensities as well as optimisation of production operations through our existing world-class gas production asset, Cygnus.”

“Cygnus is strategically important for domestic gas supply to the UK, and has one of the lowest carbon intensities on the UKCS, at less than 2kg per boe [1]. The development of Pegasus West will ensure further UK low carbon gas supply, while opening up opportunities for development of other potential gas resources in the Greater Cygnus Area,” she said.

[1] UK Oil & Gas Authority report on carbon intensity of UKCS-produced gas