WORKERS at the gas terminals have been told it is business as usual after the owner of some of the fields piping gas onshore to Barrow were bought for £2bn.

ConocoPhillips UK oil and has business has been bought by Chrysaor.

The acquisition includes the Rivers and the Millom and Dalton fields in the East Irish Sea which all pipe gas onshore at Barrow.

The Rivers terminal, which sits alongside the Spirit Energy's North terminal in Barrow, is operated by Spirit Energy on behalf of the owners.

The assets being acquired produce 72,000 barrels of oil a day.

As of January 2018, ConocoPhillips' UK assets contained more than 280 million barrels of oil and gas reserves.

The acquisition will make Chrysaor one of the largest oil and gas producers in the North Sea.

The sale is set to be completed later this year following approval from regulators.

Phil Kirk, chief executive of Chrysaor, said: “This significant acquisition reflects our continuing belief that the UK North Sea has material future potential for oil and gas production.

"In the Central North Sea, we will own a range of operated hub infrastructure providing access points in an area with the largest undeveloped contingent and prospective oil and gas resource base in the UK.

"I am proud we continue to demonstrate our ability to safely and profitably extend field life and increase production from our existing portfolio. This is only possible with the dedication of our staff, contractor colleagues and the supply chain.

"Through this new acquisition we will be joined by a highly competent workforce from ConocoPhillips UK that shares our attitude to safety and performance.

"We will have the skills and resources of a major independent oil and gas company and the drive to help ensure the basin’s potential is fully realised.

"We see exciting growth opportunities in the North Sea and are looking forward to working with our new colleagues to safely sustain and deliver our value and growth targets."