The decommissioning of BP’s Miller platform is bringing millions of pounds into the UK economy, according to the firm charged with tackling the massive project.
Saipem Ltd, a UK subsidiary of the Italian engineering giant, has been tasked with carrying out project management, engineering and associated required documentation work, according to a spokesperson.
Between onshore and offshore activities more than 100 Saipem Limited personnel will be involved.
The majority of the Engineer, Prepare, Remove (EPR) work – approximately 70% of the contract value – will be performed in the UK by Saipem, based out of their Kingston-upon-Thames and Aberdeen offices.
The massive Saipem 7000 heavy lift vessel is to remove the Miller platform topsides and jacket.
And energy giant BP claim as much as 80% of the £170million phase one spending was through UK companies.
A BP spokesman added: “This involved the plugging and abandonment of associated wells and the cleaning of topside facilities.
“We estimate that once the Miller decommissioning programme is closed out following final removal and disposal, around 80% of the total project spend will have been with the UK supply chain.
The spending claims come after Saipem, part owned by supermajor Eni, awarded a £20million contract to engineering firm Kværner earlier this month to use it’s Norway yard to dispose of the topside.,
Saipem say disposal yards with the specific characteristics required are currently unavailable in the UK.
The Kværner contract sparked concerns from union chiefs earlier this month.
They claimed Scotland was a “decade behind” in preparing for North Sea oil and gas decommissioning and risked losing out on millions of dollars of potential work.
But supermajor BP has pledged to work alongside government and industry to invest where possible in the UK PLC.
The spokesman added: “BP continues to see huge value and expertise in the UK supply chain and sources local services, assuming all key safety, capability, cost and quality criteria are met.
“We are actively engaged with colleagues at UK ports and with the UK and Scottish governments as they develop plans to capture more of the UK decommissioning market.”
BP chief executive Bob Dudley renewed the firm’s commitment to the North Sea oil and gas industry with a pledge to be a “jobs generator” for the struggling sector earlier this month.
Recommended for you
