Equinor Energy AS has let a contract to Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland SE for removal, dismantling, and recycling of topsides and jackets of the Heimdal riser platform, Heimdal main platform, and Veslefrikk A platform in the North Sea.
Gas and condensate processing on Heimdal field is to be discontinued in 2022 or 2023. The Heimdal riser platform will be removed in 2024 at the earliest, while Heimdal main platform and Veslefrikk A platform will be removed no earlier than 2025. In addition to the platforms, the contracts also include removal, dismantling and recycling of the gangway connecting the two Heimdal platforms, as well as a subsea pre-drill template connected to Veslefrikk A.
Veslefrikk partners plan to shut down the field permanently in spring of 2022. Well plugging started earlier this year (OGJ Online, Feb. 22, 2021).
Heerema sent a letter of intent to Aker Solutions AS for dismantling and recycling of the platforms at their decommissioning facilities on Stord after they have been brought to shore. All onshore activities will be performed on Stord over a period of 2-3 years.
The topsides and jackets of the three platforms have a combined weight of about 68,000 tonnes. The removal method has been adapted to each individual platform and Heerema´s heavy lift vessels Sleipnir and Thialf. Each topside will be lifted on board the heavy lift vessel in one or several parts.
Installations on the Veslefrikk and Heimdal fields will be recycled up to 98%.
The three contracts have been awarded by Equinor on behalf of Gassco as operator of the Heimdal riser platform, and on behalf of the partners of Heimdal and Veslefrikk licences.
Equinor is operator at Heimdal (29.443%) with partners Petoro AS (37%), Spirit Energy Norway AS (28.798%), Total E&P Norge (16.759%), and LOTOS Exploration and Production Norge AS (5%).
Equinor is operator at Veslefrikk (18%) with partners Petoro AS (20%), Repsol Norge AS (27%), and Wintershall Dea Norge AS (18%).