Update: Heerema, AF to remove Dunlin Alpha topsides

The article has been updated to include a response by Heerema Marine Contractors

Heerema Marine Contractors and AF Gruppen are expected to sign a deal to remove the Dunlin Alpha platform topside in the UK North Sea.

Heerema on Tuesday afternoon said that Fairfield Betula Limited had sent a notice announcing its intent to enter into a contract for the removal and disposal of the Dunlin Alpha topside.

The platform, located nearly 200 km north-east of the Shetland Isles, was used to processes production from the main Dunlin field and the Osprey and Merlin subsea fields tied back to the platform.

The contract to be awarded to Heerema and AF includes Engineering, Preparation, Removal & Disposal (EPRD) of the Dunlin Alpha topside with a total tonnage of approximately 20,000 tonnes. The platform is to be removed and disposed of in the period between 2021 – 2024.

Offshore Energy Today has reached out to Heerema seeking more info on the expected date of the signing of the firm contract and planned crane vessels to be used. We’ve also asked about the value of the deal.

In a response sent to Offshore Energy Today, a Heerema spokesperson said the contract award “is planned to be expected in Q4 2018 and any of our vessels can be utilized for this project.”

The spokesperson did not reveal the financial details of the contract.

Fairfield became the operator of the Dunlin area in 2008. After establishing it was no longer viable to continue production from the Greater Dunlin Area, the decision to terminate production was announced in June 2015. Cessation of Production (COP) was agreed with the OGA in July that same year. The operator then entered the decommissioning phase.

Offshore Energy Today Staff