LOC (Aberdeen) Ltd, part of the international marine and engineering consultancy LOC Group, has been appointed by Fairfield Betula Ltd to provide marine assurance and marine warranty services for the decommissioning of the Greater Dunlin Area in the North Sea UKCS, comprising the Dunlin Alpha Platform and two subsea satellite fields Osprey and Merlin.

The project will stretch over several years and involves the removal of the platform topsides modules, modules support frame (MSF), conductors and the subsea infrastructure for the subsea fields.

The Dunlin Alpha platform was installed in 1977, comprising a concrete gravity base structure (CGBS), supporting a steel topsides deck and production facilities, with new subsea fields, Osprey and Merlin installed in the 1990s and tied back to the platform.

This award follows the specialist support provided by LOC on an option assessment study for the removal of the Dunlin Alpha marine conductors and builds upon LOC’s extensive decommissioning experience in the North Sea region including the Quad 204 project (removal and replacement of the Schiehallion FPSO), the earlier Frigg and MCP01 removal and the recent Yme Platform removal (the first single lift undertaken by the Pioneering Spirit).

Andrew Pointing, Director of Marine Assurance and Risk, LOC’s project manager says, “Our team will be supporting Fairfield Energy as its marine partner on this complex project, LOC has considerable expertise in this field, and our team will evolve along the plan’s timeline, pulling in different specialists to provide the appropriate expertise and skills to assist with this significant ‘end of life’ project, as it progresses.”

LOC is working with Fairfield Energy providing technical input to support the topsides removal workstream. LOC will also be responsible for ensuring the appropriate marine processes and systems are in place to identify and manage risk for the operational activities.

Tags: Fairfield Betula Ltd, LOC (Aberdeen) Ltd, LOC Group