UK player wraps up decom gig offshore Australia

Aberdeen-headquartered logistics and materials management company ASCO has completed a decommissioning assignment at Western Australia’s Onslow Marine Support Base (OMSB), where it participated in offshore decommissioning activities by managing contaminated material.

As part of the contract which the UK player says is worth six figures, ASCO brought two radiation safety officers (RSOs) and transported naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM), mercury monitoring, and analysis equipment to the OMSB site. The two officers provided on-site training for NORM awareness and monitoring hazards such as benzene, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and mercury.

While their task was to oversee the setup at supervised areas and the management of contaminated materials, the team worked on enhancing OMSB’s management plans and risk assessments, providing site safety services.

OMSB chief operating officer, Andre Veder, commented: “At OMSB we believe all parts of the supply chain supporting the offshore decommissioning sector requires a robust focus on safety, efficiency and compliance. As part of this, OMSB proactively holds a range of licences including a radiation licence and associated management plan.

“To drive an effective and compliant outcome for the receival, handling and storage of potentially radioactive items, OMSB selected ASCO as its radiation specialist. ASCO’s international experience with radioactive items has allowed projects undertaken to appropriately manage the risks while not impacting the schedule of the works.”

According to ASCO, the project testifies to its capability and establishes credibility in this segment, allowing further investments in large-scale projects of this kind in Australia. As the company foresees continued growth in the region, it plans to seize decommissioning opportunities related to the country’s aging oil and gas infrastructure.

“This contract signals significant growth for ASCO in Western Australia. Our work in the North Sea has led the way in global decommissioning activity for a number of years now and we’re excited to bring that experience to Western Australia,” said ASCO’s business development manager – Environmental Services and Decommissioning, Lee Vettese.

Alongside decommissioning work, ASCO recently agreed to join around 30 partners within the proposed TH2ISTLE project, seeking to create a hydrogen valley – a hub where hydrogen is made, moved, stored, and used. The UK firm’s role includes supporting and optimizing the logistics of hydrogen supply in North East Scotland, where the project is set to be situated. The proposal was submitted for European Union (EU) funding, with a decision expected this summer and a start date targeted for Q1 2025.

Earlier this year, the firm also secured contract extensions amounting to £20 million, or nearly $25.6 million, with major energy players – Britain’s BP, Centrica Energy Storage Ltd (CESL), and France’s TotalEnergies. Each of the contracts is set to last up to three years.