Able UK to dismantle ExxonMobil’s Sable project

Able UK, a provider of decommissioning and recycling services for offshore structures, has been awarded a decommissioning contract for its Able Seaton Port facility on the River Tees.

Able Seaton Port is located in the center of the UK on the North East Coast close to the mouth of the River Tees and covers 51 hectares (126 acres) including a 10 hectare (25 acre) dry dock.

Able said on Monday that the project will involve the dismantlement, recycling and disposal of offshore natural gas platforms from the ExxonMobil Canada-operated Sable Offshore Energy Project (SOEP) off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada.

The first shipment of structures is scheduled to arrive at Able Seaton Port in the second quarter of 2020, the company added.

The appointment of Able UK was made by Heerema Marine Contractors, which was contracted by ExxonMobil to undertake the removal of facilities.

Able UK Executive Chairman, Peter Stephenson, said: “The project will involve the removal of seven platforms and their jackets using one of the biggest crane vessels in the world, the Heerema Thialf, with the components being transported to Able Seaton Port in a series of barge movements.

“We expect that the onshore dismantlement, recycling and disposal work will extend over a 10-month period.”

Currently, work is well underway at Able Seaton Port on the 24,200-tonne Shell Brent Delta topside which arrived at Able Seaton Port last May following the construction of the new multi-million-pound ASP Quay Six.

Two more platforms from the Brent field are scheduled to arrive at Able Seaton Port, with the Brent Bravo expected in May 2019 and the Brent Alpha a year later.