DeepOcean, a prominent subsea services provider, has accomplished a decommissioning project on a Fairfield Energy platform in the UK North Sea. The project was executed using a hybrid-battery-powered Construction Support Vessel (CSV).

DeepOcean's comprehensive scope of work included the removal of six subsea conductors and four vertical supports at various water depths, along with the upper conductor guide frames weighing an estimated 400 tonnes on the Dunlin Alpha platform. Additionally, the project encompassed the design and installation of bespoke clamps.

Engineering and project management for the undertaking were handled by DeepOcean's Aberdeen office, with support from its offices in Haugesund and Stavanger, Norway. The offshore operations were carried out using the hybrid-battery-powered CSV Edda Freya. Key subcontractors, including Claxton, Machtech, and Global Energy Group, contributed to the successful completion of the project.

DeepOcean managed to complete the entire project within a remarkable timeframe of 12-16 weeks, from the contract award to offshore execution. The project required extensive dynamic and structural analysis to facilitate the removal of the upper conductor guide frames, as well as significant shallow water remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations for the upper guide frame and conductor removal.

Gary Scott, UK Commercial Manager and Legal Counsel at DeepOcean, emphasized the project's significance, labeling it a flagship project for the company due to its intricate subsea engineering, specialized tools, and technologies, along with a commitment to high-quality and safe project delivery.

The Dunlin Alpha installation, situated approximately 137 kilometers northeast of Shetland in water depths of 151 meters, commenced oil production in 1978. Over the ensuing 37 years, it yielded more than 522 million barrels of oil from the Greater Dunlin Area, encompassing fields such as Dunlin, Dunlin S/W, Osprey, and Merlin. Fairfield Energy acquired these assets in 2008 and assumed full operatorship in 2014, optimizing production during its late-life stage and progressing subsequent decommissioning programs.