A new £3.5 billion gas plant has begun production in the west of Shetland area.

Operator Total said the Shetland Gas Plant will serve the Laggan and Tormore gas and condensate fields.

Located around 77 miles to the north west of the Shetland Islands, the fields are estimated to produce approximately 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day.

Arnaud Breuillac, Total's President of Exploration & Production, said: "Laggan-Tormore is a key component of our production growth in 2016 and beyond. The innovative subsea-to-shore development concept, the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, has no offshore surface infrastructure and benefits from both improved safety performance and lower costs.

-- Advertisement --

"By opening up this new production hub in the deep offshore waters of the West of Shetland, Total is also boosting the United Kingdom’s production capacity and Europe’s energy security."

Following treatment at the gas plant, the gas is exported to the mainland via the Shetland Island Regional Gas Export System (SIRGE) and the condensates are exported via the Sullom Voe Terminal.

The nearby Edradour and Glenlivet fields are also being developed by Total.

They are expected to open in 2017/18, keeping production at peak rates through to 2020.

(LM)