Uchenna Izundu
International Editor
LONDON, Mar. 7 -- ConocoPhillips let a contract to Heerema Marine Contractors to decommission its nine Ekofisk platforms in the Norwegian and UK sectors of the North Sea by 2013.
Heerema will work with Norwegian demolition and recycling company AF Decom Offshore to carry out the work. The award includes options to remove other platforms and installations as well.
Decommissioning of the platforms, which gathered production from Ekofisk, Eldfisk, Embla, and Tor, will occur in phases so that Heerema can fully utilize the Hermod and Thialf semisubmersible crane vessels.
"The Ekofisk topsides and jackets will be removed and taken to a yard in Vats, Norway, for recycling and disposal. An estimated 96-98% of the material recovered will be recycled by 2014," Heerema said.
The value of the decommissioning contract, which covers engineering, offshore preparation, removal, and onshore recycling, was reported to be $1 billion.
ConocoPhillips has begun decommissioning its 25,000 Ekofisk storage tank with its topsides and is preparing for in-place disposal finishing by yearend.
Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].
