Decommissioning News

DOF Bags Shell’s Decommissioning Contract for Knarr and Gaupe Fields

Norwegian offshore vessel operator DOF Group has secured a ‘substantial’ subsea engineering procurement removal and disposal (EPRD) contract from Norske Shell in the Atlantic region.The contract outlines 100 combined days of utilization of DOF’s vessels Skandi Hera and Maersk Installer.DOF will deliver an integrated solution of project management, engineering, design, analysis and survey.Described as ‘substantial’ by DOF, this means that the contract is valued between $23.8 million and $47.8 million (NOK 250 million to NOK 500 million).The scope includes recovery and recycling of umbilicals…

Skandi Emerald AHTS Set for Petrofac’s Northern Endeavour FPSO Job

Akastor's subsidiary DDW Offshore has secured a contract extension with Petrofac for its AHTS vessel that will be put on the Northern Endeavour FPSO disconnection job offshore Australia.The contract extension follows the original one-year contract Petrofac signed with DDW Offshore for the AHTS vessel Skandi Atlantic back in September 2022.Petrofac has now awarded DDW Offshore a 9-month extension of the existing contract in Australia whereby Skandi Emerald will replace Skandi Atlantic in March 2024.The contract will last until year-end 2024, DDW Offshore informed.Skandi Emerald will continue to

Petrobras Makes History, Sells First FPSO for Green Recycling in Brazil

In a first, Brazilian oil company Petrobras last week reportedly sold the P-32 FPSO for sustainable recycling in Brazil, paving the way for the development of the local ship recycling industry.The sale of the floating unit P-32 reportedly took place on July 7, 2023. In a collaboration supervised by Petrobras, the steel company Gerdau S.A. and shipyard Ecovix have been entrusted with the responsible and environmentally sound recycling of the FPSO."This decision marks the first time a commercial vessel at the end of its lifecycle will be dismantled in Brazil.

Helix Energy Solutions Wins Major Offshore Decommissioning Deal in U.S. Gulf of Mexico

U.S.-based offshore service firm Helix Energy Solutions has secured a 39-well decommissioning contract in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico shelf with an unnamed client. The project, awarded to Helix's Louisiana-based subsidiary Helix Alliance, is expected to start in mid-2023.The scope of work includes the plug and abandonment of 39 wells, 15 pipelines, and seven structures.

Reach Subsea Nets North Sea Decom Gig

Oslo-listed subsea services provider Reach Subsea said Wednesday it had won a decommissioning contract in the North Sea. The contract is with an undisclosed client, and represents around 40 project days for execution in Q1 2023. Reach Subsea will use the Olympic Delta vessel for the project. Financial details were not disclosed.Olympic Delta is a subsea vessel equipped for light IMR and survey work for both the oil and gas and renewables sectors.Reach Subsea has an existing cooperation with Olympic Subsea for Olympic Delta, and the parties have agreed to extend the cooperation for the whole of 2023. Currently, the extended cooperation comprises an additional 150 days of firm work for the two ROVs currently mobilized on the vessel.

Aqua Helix Gets Two-year Contract Offshore Brazil

Damen Shipyards Group and Compagnie Maritime Monégasque (CMM) announced a two-year offshore support contract for Damen Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 7011 Aqua Helix. The vessel will transport personnel to and from offshore platforms in support of an oil and gas decommissioning project. The 2022-built Aqua Helix arrived in Brazil on January 26 and is anticipated to commence work in the coming weeks.“During the design phase of the FCS 7011, we considered the Brazilian market a strong fit for this vessel…

Wagenborg's Multi-Purpose Vessel to Support Decommissioning Works in the Southern North Sea

Offshore vessel operator Wagenborg Offshore said Tuesday it had secured a long-term deal with an unnamed energy major for the deployment of a multi-purpose offshore vessel.According to Wagenborg, the vessel will support subsea activities and decommissioning works in the Southern North Sea.Wagenborg said that an existing young PX121 platform supply vessel would be converted into a multipurpose offshore vessel within 34 weeks at the shipyard Royal Niestern Sander in Delfzijl."During this period…

Petrofac Hires AHTS to Assist with Northern Endeavour FPSO Disconnection

Akastor's subsidiary DDW Offshore has won a one-year contract with Petrofac for the AHTS vessel Skandi Atlantic. The AHTS will support the disconnection of the FPSO "Northern Endeavour" together with towing and well isolations work in the Laminaria Corallina oil fields in the West Timor Sea. The contract start date is September 27th, 2022.The Australian Government earlier this year awarded London-listed oilfield services giant Petrofac a contract for Phase 1 of the decommissioning of the Northern Endeavour FPSO, offshore W.

BV Sees Surge in Decommissioning Support Orders. Beats Its Full Year Target

Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore, the marine and offshore technical advisory branch of Bureau Veritas, saw a surge in the decommissioning support field orders in the first six months of 2022.The company said that new decommissioning support deals in the UK, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand have led to BV Solutions M&O exceeding its full-year target by end-June – a target set before the economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.The projects awarded have been focused on risk and marine assurance…

New Decommissioning Hub in Aberdeen to Create Up to 50 New Jobs

CessCon Decom,  a Scotland-based firm specializing in decommissioning of oil and gas structures, plans to launch a decommissioning hub at the Port of Aberdeen’s £400 million South Harbour expansion in Q3 2022, creating up to 50 new jobs.The new hub will be located within Crathes Quay at South Harbour and deliver dismantling, recycling, and reuse services with a key focus on subsea infrastructure. The jobs boost is expected over the next 12 months, and CessCon said it would be…

Gallery: Allseas' Pioneering Spirit Vessel Removes 11,000t Gyda Offshore Jacket

Offshore installation and decommissioning contractor Allseas said Tuesday it had successfully removed and transported to shore Repsol Norge’s 30,000-tonne Gyda platform "in a matter of days."According to the company, Allseas' Pioneering Spirit, the world's largest offshore construction ship, delivered Gyda platform’s 11,000-tonne jacket to Aker Solutions’ disposal yard in Stord, Norway, less than 48 hours after removing it from the southern Norwegian Sea. "The latest job for the vessel’s new jacket lift technology is one of the heaviest ever but well within the system’s 20…

Gulf of Mexico: Helix Energy Solutions Buys Alliance Group of Companies

U.S. based offshore well services company Helix Energy Solutions Group has finalized the previously announced acquisition of the Alliance group of companies, bolstering its decommissioning footprint in the Gulf of Mexico.Alliance is a Louisiana-based privately held company that provides services supporting the upstream and midstream ‎industries in the Gulf of Mexico shelf, including offshore oil field decommissioning and ‎reclamation, project management, engineered solutions, intervention…

Sevan Hummingbird FPSO Set to Leave Chestnut Field in North Sea

Teekay's Sevan Hummingbird FPSO is set to leave Spirit Energy's Chestnut oil field in the North Sea after 13 years of oil production at the site.According to notice to mariners issued by Teekay on Thursday, the FPSO is currently being disconnected from its moorings.The 2007-built vessel, which was also known as Hummingbird Spirit, or just Hummingbird, has the capacity to produce around 25,000 barrels of oil per day, and a storage capacity of 270,000. It is operated by Altera on behalf of Teekay. The cylindrical FPSO, with hull diameter of 60 meters, has been producing oil from the Chestnut field since 2008. Spirit Energy, the operator of the offshore oil field, in August 2021 said it would file a decommissioning program for the Chestnut field.

PHOTO: Pioneering Spirit Brings Decommissioned Valhall Facilities to Stord for Recycling

Allseas giant Pioneering Spirit offshore construction ship is back in Stord, Norway, to deliver several decommissioned platform facilities removed from the Aker BP's Valhall field complex, located in the North Sea offshore Norway. The facilities will be recycled.The Pioneering Spirit, dubbed the world’s largest vessel, arrived in Stord on June 9, with the entire production and compression (PCP) platform topsides, upper section of the original drilling platform (DP) jacket, and…

Helix Energy Solutions to Buy Alliance Companies to Boost Presence in Gulf of Mexico Decommissioning Space

U.S.-based offshore oil and gas services firm  Helix Energy Solutions Group is set to buy equity interests of Louisiana-baed Alliance group of companies for $120 million cash at closing, plus the potential for post-closing earnout consideration.Alliance is a Louisiana-based privately held company that provides services supporting the upstream and midstream ‎industries in the Gulf of Mexico shelf, including offshore oil field decommissioning and ‎reclamation, project management…

One of the Heaviest Offshore Jacket Lifts Ever: Allseas' Pioneering Spirit Removes Ninian Northern Jacket

Offshore installation and decommissioning contractor Allseas has removed the Ninian Northern jacket in the North Sea in a single lift, showcasing its new jacket lifting system installed aboard its giant Pioneering Spirit vessel.In what was the first deployment of the new jacket lifting technology, Pioneering Spirit removed CNR International’s Ninian Northern jacket from the northern North Sea and transported it intact to shore for recycling.Weighing in at 8100 tonnes, the first commercial lift with Pioneering Spirit’s Jacket lift system (JLS) is one of the heaviest offshore jackets lifts ever…

DOF Subsea Clinches Multiple Contracts in Oil & Gas, Renewables Sectors

Subsea services provider DOF Subsea said Tuesday it had won several new contracts in both the oil and gas and renewables sectors in the North Sea.The projects, to be delivered in 2022, total more than 185 vessel days excluding any optional work. Skandi Acergy, Skandi Constructor, Skandi Hera and selected third-party vessels will be utilised in the offshore execution phases. The projects, which are scheduled to be delivered in 2022, will cover a total of 185 vessel days, excluding optional work. In the offshore execution phases, DOF Subsea will use the Skandi Acergy, Skandi Constructor, Skandi Hera vessels, as well as selected third-party boats.DOF Subsea…

Offshore Energy: Are Decommissioning Costs set to Spiral?

As offshore market activity recovers and continues to increase through the next decade, as we expect it to, oilfield service (OFS) capacity is expected to tighten.As offshore market activity recovers and continues to increase through the next decade, as NorthStone Advisors expect it to, oilfield service (OFS) capacity is expected to tighten. In NorthStone Advisors’ view, this will create a period of increased scarcity and cost inflation, presenting significant cost and schedule risk to decommissioning programs.Many eyes are on the UK…

Next-Gen: Jan De Nul's Jack-up 'Voltaire' Launched in China

Offshore installation firm Jan De Nul Group said Monday that its next-gen offshore jack-up installation vessel for offshore renewables and decommissioning had been launched at the COSCO Shipping Shipyard in Nantong, China. According to the vessel owner, the Voltaire will be the second and largest jack-up vessel in Jan De Nul’s fleet, and able to support the renewable energy industry to build next-generation offshore wind farms. The Voltaire, built to transport, lift and install offshore wind turbines…

Canadian Coast Guard Decommissions Its Oldest Serving Vessel

The Canadian Coast Guard is decommissioning its oldest serving vessel after 59 years of service.The offshore oceanographic and hydrographic survey vessel CCGS Hudson, taken out of service after a starboard propulsion motor failure in November 2021, will be decommissioned due to the scale of the problem and the time and cost to repair it, combined with the costs associated with an upcoming period of regulatory compliance work."It has been determined that the ship is beyond economical repair and further investment would not allow it to return to reliable service," the Coast Guard said on Wednesday.Built at Saint John Shipbuilding, the 90.4-meter-long CCGS Hudson entered service in 1963 as the first Canadian ship constructed specifically for hydrographic and oceanographic survey work.

BP Files Petrojarl Foinaven FPSO Removal Plan

British oil major BP has filed a decommissioning plan for the removal of the Petrojarl Foinaven FPSO and the recovery of associated mooring systems, the risers and dynamic umbilicals from the Foinaven Field, located 160 kilometers (100 miles) west of Shetland in water depths of up to 600 meters.The FPSO and related equipment will be transferred onshore for re-use, recycling or disposal as appropriate. BP last year said that the Petrojarl Foinaven FPSO had to be taken off-station as it had reached end of its 25-year service life, operating in a harsh environment, and now the company has filed the removal plans with the UK authorities.The FPSO is owned by Petrojarl 4 DA (part of the Teekay Corporation group) and is currently chartered by BP under a bareboat charter party.

US Coast Guard Decommissions Two Patrol Boats

After more than 30 years of active service, U.S. Coast Guard Island-class patrol boats USCGC Aquidneck (WPB 1309) and USCGC Adak (WPB 1333) were decommissioned in a ceremony aboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Tuesday.Vice Adm. Steven Poulin, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, was in attendance to honor the years of service Aquidneck, Adak, and their crews, provided to the Coast Guard.“Thank you to every single crew member who has ever served aboard Aquidneck and Adak, from the plank owners to the final crew and all the crews in between,” Poulin said.

PSE Kinsale Energy Charters Siem Pearl AHTS for P&A Support in Ireland

Norwegian offshore vessel operator Siem Offshore has won a three-month charter for the 91-meters long AHTS vessel Siem Pearl in Ireland.The contract is with PSE Kinsale Energy Ltd, the Irish subsidiary of the Malaysian oil giant Petronas, which is currently working to decommission its Kinsale area fields off Ireland.The Kinsale area offshore gas fields in the Celtic Sea in July last year officially ceased production, after more than 40 years online. Production from the fields, between approximately 40 and 70km off the County Cork coast, began in 1978 and peaked in 1995.Siem Offshore's 2009-built Siem Pearl anchor handler will be supporting…