Able lands another rig recycling contract

Posted on the : 7th February 2014

Able UK has been awarded a contract for the disposal of four offshore structures from the Shell operated Brent Field in the North Sea.

The contract will see three platform topsides, as well as a 138m high steel platform jacket, transported from the Brent field over 100 miles north east of Scotland to Able Seaton Port on Teesside. The timing of the arrival of the first topside is subject to further offshore preparation work and regulatory approvals

Able UK Limited Managing Director Andrew Jacques said: “We are delighted to have been selected to undertake this significant platform decommissioning project. This six-year contract will see the deployment of the very latest techniques and technologies in the recycling of these materials.

“We are looking forward to working with our partners on this project, and we are justifiably proud to have been selected for this exciting project.

“Able Seaton Port is already a superb facility and it will see further investment from Able UK Limited with the construction of what will be one of Europe’s heaviest load bearing quays (45t/m2) along with associated infrastructure at the northern end of the dry dock to receive the structures. This will enable the topsides and jackets to be shipped to the new quay for dismantling.”

About 50 jobs will be created during the 18 month construction of the new quay with the six-year recycling contract itself generating a further 50 new jobs. It is anticipated that over 97 per cent of the structures will be reused or recycled.

The platforms will be individually transported from the Brent field to the Tees on board the newly-constructed Allseas “Pieter Schelte” vessel, which has been specially designed for single lift installation and removal works.

Able is recognised as one of the world’s most experienced and capable organisations in the field of decommissioning and recycling of end-of-life marine structures. Since 1985 it has imported over 60 structures for major companies and organisations including BP, l, Conoco, Hamilton Oil, Shell, Total/Fina/Elf and both the US and French Governments.

NOTE FOR EDITORS: Information on the Peiter Schelte and Able UK’s expertise in rig decommissioning can be found on www.allseas.com/uk/19/equipment and www.ableuk.com/operations/marine-decomission/.

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