Marine consultancy ABL to help decommission three UK rigs
Marine consultancy ABL has been tapped by Spirit Energy to support the decommissioning of a trio of offshore rigs in UK waters. The three-year project will see the firm utilise its international network to help with delivery.
Part of the Oslo-listed ABL Group, ABL is a marine, engineering, and energy consultancy specialist for decommissioning operations. It regularly works on offshore projects around the world – most recently including a marine warranty services (MWS) contract with Woodside in May 2022 for the Scarborough project offshore Western Australia.
The firm’s international web of offices is a key enabler for it to take on such work. In the case of picking up its newest project from Spirit Energy, for example, it is expected that ABL’s office in Aberdeen is likely to draw on the experience of its other offices in the Netherlands, Norway and Canada; to service local on-site attendances where necessary.
“Capitalising on our international office network is an important part of how we as a group can cost-effectively apply our MWS expertise to supporting the ongoing offshore energy transition,” said Ashley Perrett, Engineering Manager at ABL’s Aberdeen office.
The contract with Spirit Energy Production – which is a subsidiary of Centrica – will see ABL’s Aberdeen office offer MWS and marine consultancy services for the UK operator’s decommissioning portfolio in the southern North Sea and the Irish Sea. The project, which runs until 2025, will oversee the mothballing of three oil and gas platforms. The work will involve the removal of topside, and jackets for the Audrey A, Audrey B, and Ensign platforms.
Perrett added, “ABL has considerable experience in supporting clients with the safe, efficient and optimised decommissioning of their oil and gas assets. Our long history in the sector, combined with our participation in a number of industry firsts within decommissioning, gives us unique insight into the range of challenges which can impact these complex marine operations.”
ABL will also provide technical document and procedural review, on-site attendance and marine consultancy support for offshore operations during the campaign. In addition, the firm will also take care of suitability surveying of the proposed fleet for the campaign as part of the scope.
Several hundred oil drilling platforms in the North Sea are due to be decommissioned over the next three decades, as they approach the end of their operational lifetime. Disassembling the enormous pieces of infrastructure, each of which can be as tall as the Eiffel Tower, is a costly undertaking. However, the installations being removed tend to be older and so generate more emissions relative to the oil and gas they produce – making their dismantling an essential part of the economy’s decarbonisation efforts.
