- 28 May 2021
- Global
TAQA Group Commences One of the Largest Decommissioning Projects in the North Sea
Aberdeen – May 28, 2021: Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (“TAQA”, the “Company” or the “Group”), one of the largest listed integrated utility companies in the Europe, Middle East and Africa, announced today it has commenced the first major asset removal project and one of the largest topside removal projects of its kind in the North Sea.
The Brae Bravo platform, first commissioned in 1988, is being removed over three separate phases in 2021 and 2022, using two of the world’s largest semi-submersible crane vessels (SSCVs). Marking the first time that these vessels have converged in the North Sea, the Heerema’s Thialf and Sleipnir are each greater than 200 meters in length.
The first campaign, which began in April, saw the two SSCVs simultaneously in the field for several days to prepare and ultimately remove the flare tower, bridge and jacket. Thialf remains in the field to complete final preparatory works and module separation to allow final removal in the summer. For the second campaign, Sleipnir will remove the remaining topsides during two trips to the field during the summer of 2021, at which point the only remaining visible element of Brae Bravo will be the top of the jacket above the sea surface. A dedicated navigational aid will be placed on the remaining structure and a 500-metre safety zone will remain in place until jacket decommissioning is completed in 2022.
As a late-life asset operator, safety and environmental impact principles are at the center of the project for TAQA and its partners. All waste materials will be transported to the AF Environmental Base in Vats, Norway and processed, aiming for a 95% recycling or reuse target.
Donald Taylor, TAQA Managing Director for Europe, commented: “TAQA Europe is embarking on one of the largest decommissioning exercises in the North Sea to date. The Brae Bravo has been an integral part of the Brae fields for more than three decades with the size and scale of the platform, including the topside structure, almost the height of the London Eye.
“The arrival of Thialf in the field was a historic occasion, heralding the moment when we started converting many years of planning into practical implementation.
“Over the last 33 years, Brae Bravo has been an important contributor to the UK oil and gas industry with many people having long-standing connections to the platform. This project will involve more than 500 people working offshore on the program during peak decommissioning operations, and we are committed to delivering safe and efficient execution of this milestone.
“It’s important to recognize the efforts of the project team, including our suppliers and contractors, who have contributed, despite the challenges resulting from the Covid-19.”