Hans J Marter

11 September 2007

LERWICK based companies have yesterday (Monday) proved that they can handle the largest of structures when the 8,800 tonnes Frigg module support frame was safely lifted off the S600 barge and set onto the new decommission pad owned by SBS.

The delicate operation started at 7.30am and lasted well into the afternoon involving a fleet of multi axle trailers encompassing 360 axle lines.

Watching the operation, SBS Logistics’ commercial director Murdo MacIver said it was a moment for Lerwick to be proud of as it firmly established the port and the companies located there as a centre of excellence for decommissioning redundant oil and gas installations.

The structure will now be handed over to Veolia Environmental Services for dismantling, recycling, reuse and waste disposal.

Mr MacIver said: “We have now completed a project that we can be proud of in terms of bringing the structure ashore. This should be seen as a fantastic day for Shetland.

“It took two to three years between tendering for this project, engineering it and getting prepared for it. That forms a key part in the success we had today in bringing the structure ashore safely.

“That should be seen as a major step forward in terms of our ability to serve the decommissioning industry from Shetland.”

Bringing ashore the Frigg module is part of the £250 million contract between Aker Kværner Offshore Partners, of which SBS is one partner, and oil company Total to decommission the Frigg field production facilities in Norway and Shetland.

As part of the contract, around 16,000 tonnes of material will be dealt with at the new £1.2 million decommissioning pad at the Greenhead Base, in Lerwick, which was opened last year.

The module support frame is the largest individual structure to be brought ashore. It was towed into Lerwick Harbour onboard the large Saipem S600 barge in July and was the largest shipment ever handled by the port authority.

Project manager James Johnson said the module very much signified the size of things to come.

“The success of the project clearly shows the capability of SBS and the burgeoning Shetland industry available to handle this size and type of decommissioning operation which is comparable to potential decommissioning requirements for the remaining major structures sited in the northern and central North Sea,” he said.

The module support frame will now be surveyed by engineers from Veolia before dismantling work is due to get under way in earnest, towards the end of the year.

The company said that the structure should have disappeared by early summer 2008.

Veolia’s Mark Stanley said: “On completion of the load-in, we will take responsibility for decommissioning of the module support frame providing specialist waste separation and processing services with a target 98 per cent recycling/recovery rate.

“Waste will be recycled, reused and treated locally and comprehensive environmental reporting will also be undertaken.”