Study Targets Improved Subsea Mattress Salvage

 

Independent multi-discipline subsea engineering and training firm Jee Ltd. has completed a contract with Decom North Sea (DNS), the representative body for the decommissioning industry, to identify methods of salvage and re-use options for concrete subsea mattresses.

 

The aim of the project, which commenced in February 2015 and saw Jee partner with DNS and Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS), was to identify new solutions for subsea mattress removal which would work without diver interventions during the lift procedure, resulting in improved safety and reduced costs.  

 

Nigel Jenkins, DNS Chief Executive explains the background to the contract, “This project was implemented in direct response to our operator member requests and Jee’s findings have been eagerly anticipated. Mattress removal can add significant costs to decommissioning projects hence we are keen to establish a variety of solutions to further drive efficiency.” 

 

Adam Smith, Subsea Engineer at Jee, presented the findings at an event hosted jointly by DNS and ZWS at the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Center, Thursday, May 28. Around 100 oil and gas professionals came together to discuss the key findings of the report and how they will improve industry best practice and the circular economy. 

 

Discussing the project, Smith said, “The significant cost of removing and disposing of aged subsea mattresses is an issue affecting the industry globally. Identifying innovative new methods to support the decommissioning sector is high on the industry’s agenda, and DNS’s highly-attended event is the ideal platform to showcase the results from the project.”

 

Smith continued, “Jee’s team of experienced engineers are at the forefront of supporting innovative new research projects to support the sustainability of the industry. Working with two highly-regarded industry bodies on a key investigative project highlights Jee’s expertise in the field and long history of delivering results.

 

“Our research played a key role in this project, which will form a basis for economic and environmental assessment of mattress conditions and the options for removal and re-use going forward. We also helped to identify the criteria required to determine whether subsea mattresses should be removed or left in situ, the main consideration being the safety of the subsea divers and the environmental impact,” Smith said.

 

Jee developed a number of suggestions for the re-use of the mattress concrete including tidal lagoons structures, the construction of artificial reefs to encourage new sea life and to lay road foundations, resulting in less new concrete needed to be produced and as a result, reduced carbon dioxide emissions.  

 

Commenting on the findings, Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland, said, “This joint report has some fascinating insights about how we go about extending the useful life of subsea concrete mattresses. I am sure it will be of great interest to all those in the oil and gas industry and beyond. The findings point to some exciting cross-over potential with other sectors, such as offshore renewables. Circular economy practices present a terrific economic opportunity for Scotland and we can best realise this by collaborating across sectors and industries.”