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Hydrock set to kick off construction on Portland Gas Storage Project

Hydrock is set to start work on what will be the largest onshore gas storage facility in the UK. This is one of two active Portland Gas plc projects which could between them provide more than 10% of the total UK and Ireland peak daily demand. Construction work on the Project will begin on July 31, 2009.

Hydrock has been appointed to deliver a turnkey contract to design and construct the well drilling platform on which part of the £0.5bn facility will be constructed. The first phase of the contract will involve the installation of the deep drainage. The subsequent works will include the design and construction of 14 reinforced concrete well chambers, a 200m long reinforced earth structure, pipe culverts and slope stabilisation structures. The works involve a large earthworks element including the excavation of approximately 46,000m3 of soil and rock and the placement of approximately 30,000m3 of recycled aggregates.

The project will enable the storage of natural gas in large caverns formed underground in a thick salt sequence and will involve the construction of associated surface facilities at the site of the former HMS Osprey Naval Base on Portland. The gas storage site will be connected to the National Grid by underground pipelines across Weymouth Bay.

Hydrock's Managing Director, Dr Brian McConnell has been working closely with Portland during the planning and design stages and is delighted that work can now begin. "We recognise the importance of the Portland Project to securing energy supplies and we are looking forward to a continuing and increasing involvement in the project where we can continue to add value."

For more information, please contact Jane Stanbridge - 01454 619533.
janestanbridge@hydrock.com July 2009