Norway orders platform removal

Norway's Ministry of Industry & Energy has surprised the North Sea petroleum industry by insisting that a platform in Odin field, which stopped producing in August 1994, be completely removed. Odin operator Esso Norge AS submitted a decommissioning plan in March 1995 and proposed removing the platform's topsides and toppling its steel jacket to make an artificial reef. The ministry's decision is a surprise because of its approval early this year of a plan by Elf Petroleum Norge AS

March 25, 1996

2 min read

Norway's Ministry of Industry & Energy has surprised the North Sea petroleum industry by insisting that a platform in Odin field, which stopped producing in August 1994, be completely removed.

Odin operator Esso Norge AS submitted a decommissioning plan in March 1995 and proposed removing the platform's topsides and toppling its steel jacket to make an artificial reef.

The ministry's decision is a surprise because of its approval early this year of a plan by Elf Petroleum Norge AS to convert some of its idle Northeast Frigg facilities to a breakwater (OGJ, Jan. 22, p. 23).

The Norwegian ministry said the Odin platform will be taken to shore for dismantling and recycling, with total decommissioning costs pegged at 245 million kroner ($40 million).

The ministry cited uncertainties in offshore disposal of the jacket. But it did not rule out the possibility of offshore disposal in the future.

Esso has let contract to a joint venture of Aker AS of Oslo and Saipem SpA of Milan for removal and disposal of the platform. Recycling and scrapping work will be carried out at Aker's Stord yard in Norway.

The ministry's plan is to be submitted to Storting, the Norwegian parliament, in the spring. Following Storting's decision, offshore lifting by Saipem could begin later this year.

Odin platform is a conventional steel structure with topsides weighing 7,600 metric tons and a steel jacket of 6,000 metric tons installed on Block 30/10a in 103 m of water. It produced about 30 billion cu m of gas during 10 years, with production exported via the Frigg field complex.