Fairfield Energy, the North Sea oil and gas operator and decommissioning specialist, has awarded Bibby Offshore, a leading subsea services provider to the oil and gas industry, the contract for the subsea infrastructure decommissioning (SID) of the Greater Dunlin Area.
Bibby Offshore has been awarded the contract and will procure supporting services from a consortium of suppliers, including the Port of Cromarty Firth. The scope of the contract includes the subsea infrastructure associated with the Osprey and Merlin subsea fields and other infrastructure tied back to the Dunlin Alpha Platform. These scopes were defined in the Decommissioning Programmes approved by OPRED, the Offshore Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning, in December.
The SID contract, which has been awarded on an EPRD (engineering, preparation, removal and disposal) basis, marks an important phase in the decommissioning of the Greater Dunlin Area.
John Wiseman, Fairfield Energy’s Managing Director, said: “Our pioneering team is working at a new frontier to optimise industry solutions whilst developing expertise in the last stage of the Oil and Gas lifecycle. We are excited to be entering this latest phase in the successful decommissioning of the Greater Dunlin Area. Awarding this contract sets the benchmark for EPRD contracting in the subsea decommissioning arena. We look forward to partnering with Bibby Offshore and the wider consortium through the safe, environmentally sound and cost-effective execution of the subsea infrastructure decommissioning phase of the project.”
Howard Woodcock, Bibby Offshore’s Chief Executive, said: “This is a significant award, not just for our business but in terms of the subsea sector as a whole. We are delighted to be working with Fairfield on the Greater Dunlin Area Decommissioning Project and would like to thank them for their support and patience throughout our recent recapitalisation process. The award demonstrates the importance of our track record for safe and effective project delivery, and the confidence in Bibby Offshore’s ability to continue to provide a first class service to clients. This reinforces our confidence in the start of many significant project awards underpinned by the firm footing of a re-capitalised business.”
The three-year contract, which has a multi-million pound value, has an initial execution window of two years for offshore activities. The engineering work is due to start immediately, with offshore mobilisation expected in April 2018.
All materials transported onshore to the Port of Cromarty Firth will be broken down by suppliers into transferable loads before being transported to the appropriate disposal and recycling locations. These activities will be completed within 12 months of the last offshore shipment arriving in port.
The award of the contract marks the first decommissioning project secured by the Port of Cromarty Firth, adding additional capability to the facility.
Bob Buskie, Port of Cromarty Firth’s Chief Executive, said: “The Port is delighted to welcome its first decommissioning project. We have been preparing and investing to attract such opportunities over a number of years and today’s news is a tremendous boost for local companies and workers. We have worked for many months alongside our alliance partners to successfully secure this project and we are grateful for their efforts. We also thank Fairfield Energy and Bibby Offshore for recognising our Alliance capabilities and the world class supply chain and skilled workforce based in Invergordon.”
Source: Bibby Offshore