Heerema-AF JV to remove Murchison platform

AF Gruppen ASA, in a consortium with Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland SE, has now signed a contract with CNR International (U.K) Limited, for the removal and disposal of the Murchison Platform in the North Sea.

The Murchison oil field straddles the UK/Norway median line, with the platform itself being located on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf, East of the Shetland Islands.

The Murchison, one of the largest steel jacket platforms in the North Sea, was installed in 1980 and finally ceased production during March 2014.

The award covers a major contract for engineering, preparation, removal and disposal (EPRD) of both the topsides and jacket structure, altogether a total weight of approximately 37,000 tons.

The contract assumes start of the engineering work in 2014 immediately after contract award. Offshore work will start in early 2016 with the removal and final disposal work continuing through until 2020. The disposal work will be carried out in both UK and at AF Environmental Base, Vats.

The contract value for AF Gruppen’s part of the work is NOK 700 million ($108 million).

“This contract award is testimony to many years of successful cooperation between Heerema and AF Gruppen in North Sea decommissioning projects, where together we have demonstrated an excellent safety record, technical performance and predictable execution,” said AF Gruppen in the release.

In August 2014, Heerema-AF JV has been awarded a Letter of Intent for Murchison platform removal job.