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 gas business, which produces 72,000 barrels of oil a day, has been bought by Chrysaor.

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

Gas from the Millom & Dalton fields comes in via Spirit Energy’s North terminal in Barrow while Calder goes into the Rivers Terminal. All are operated by Spirit Energy.

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

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

The sale will be completed later this year following regulatory approval.

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.”