DeepOcean and BP: Pioneering Subsea Decommissioning in the UKCS
Norwegian ocean services provider DeepOcean is making significant strides in the decommissioning landscape by partnering with UK-based energy giant BP. Their latest collaboration focuses on the sustainable recycling of subsea equipment at the Foinaven field off the western coast of Shetland, an area steeped in oil production history.
The Foinaven Field
The Foinaven field, discovered in 1992, marked a milestone in deepwater oil exploration, with its first oil shipment in 1997. Situated approximately 190 kilometers west of the Shetland Islands within the Faroes/Shetland Trough, this underwater reservoir lies at depths of 330 to 530 meters. Before the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit was removed in 2021, the Foinaven asset achieved remarkable production levels—440 million barrels of oil, nearly double its initial expectations.
DeepOcean’s Integral Role
As part of this project, DeepOcean will undertake the removal of ten flexible process risers and three dynamic subsea umbilicals from the FPSO Foinaven’s old operating site. The scope of work doesn’t end there; the company will also extract a static umbilical and a variety of associated equipment, including buoyancy elements, riser protection systems, clamps, and other appurtenances linked to each riser.
To facilitate these operations, DeepOcean will deploy a high-specification subsea construction vessel for offshore tasks, with all engineering and project management processes coordinated from its Aberdeen operations.
Decommissioning: Beyond Just Costs
Robin Mawhinney, DeepOcean’s Executive Vice President for the EMEA region, identifies decommissioning not merely as a cost management exercise but as an opportunity. “At DeepOcean, we see it as an opportunity to apply engineering, technology, and commercial flexibility to improve project outcomes and recover value for our clients,” he states. This perspective highlights an evolving industry attitude toward decommissioning—not a necessary evil but rather an avenue for innovation and efficiency.
A Proven Collaboration
This partnership isn’t DeepOcean’s first rodeo with BP. Both entities had previously established a sale and purchase agreement for decommissioning work at the Don and Miller fields, using a similar commercial model. This track record of successful collaboration has paved the way for a framework that focuses on enhancing operational flexibility and cost optimization for both parties.
According to Øyvind Mikaelsen, CEO of DeepOcean, “This award reflects a progressive and commercially innovative approach to subsea decommissioning.” It reflects a broader trend in the industry where companies are becoming more strategic in managing decommissioning, finding ways to make it efficient and cost-effective.
Expanding Horizons
DeepOcean’s work with BP comes on the heels of yet another significant contract win—a subsea contract package with Equinor for various fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. This aligns with a larger industry ethos where companies are continuously seeking innovative and sustainable practices in the ever-evolving oil and gas sector.
As the energy landscape transitions, initiatives like these represent a crucial step in not just extracting resources but responsibly managing their lifecycle. The collaboration between DeepOcean and BP serves as a model for how industry giants can work together to address the complexities of decommissioning while maximizing value and minimizing environmental impact.