MAERSK Oil has awarded a six-figure contract to TWMA to handle and dispose of subsea structures and equipment damaged during a North Sea storm earlier this year.
More than 70 people had to be evacuated from the Gryphon Alpha floating production vessel in February when four of its 10 anchor chains failed in high winds.
TWMA, an Aberdeen-based oil and gas environmental-waste management company, has now landed the work to deal with items damaged. It will carry out onshore handling, cleaning and cutting of subsea structures including risers, riser bases, flowlines, umbilicals, mid-water arches and mattresses.
The firm says it will maximise recycling and reuse of all recovered materials.
The subsea structures and equipment will be landed at Lerwick harbour, then transported to TWMA’s onshore waste-transfer station at Vatster Gott, Shetland.
TWMA environmental team leader James Shannon said: “Maersk Oil is a long-standing client and we are delighted that it has chosen to use TWMA for this important recovery project.
“Having a permanent presence in Shetland with a dedicated waste-transfer station and team allows us to deliver a highly-efficient waste-management service to Maersk Oil and other clients operating in this region.
“We anticipate that 95% of the subsea material recovered from the Gryphon field will either be reused or recycled, thus dramatically reducing the volume of waste sent for landfill.”
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Two managers from Maersk Oil will give an account today of the key findings from the Gryphon incident investigation.
Alistair Cassels, head of subsea marine and structures, and Ian MacKenzie, projects group manager, are to speak at a Subsea UK “lunch and learn” session at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. Mr Mackenzie said: “The team on board the Gryphon installation acted both promptly and efficiently in shutting down the wells and stabilising the vessel.
“One of the issues we will be covering is the importance for organisations to have the correct practices and procedures in place to react to unforeseen events.
Mr Cassels said: “Maersk Oil carried out a detailed investigation of the Gryphon . . . incident and subsequently issued an industry safety alert. We are pleased to share these learnings with other companies as part of our commitment to improving the safety of all offshore operations.”