Akastor subsidiary DDW Offshore has been awarded a firm one-year contract by Petrofac for the AHTS vessel Skandi Atlantic. The AHTS will support the disconnection of the FPSO Northern Endeavour together with towing and well isolations work in the Laminaria Corallina oil fields in the West Timor Sea.
The Australian Government has awarded Wood the role of Owner’s Team, which will see it assume responsibility for the first phase of decommissioning at the Northern Endeavour vessel.
Petrofac has secured a contract from the Australian Government to carry out the first phase of decommissioning work on the Northern Endeavour.
Australia needs outside help and equipment as it starts a mega offshore decommissioning journey that is expected to cost more than A$50 billion (£27 billion). Significantly, companies with North Sea experience look set to play a pivotal role as the market evolves.
The decommissioning costs of oil and gas firms which have recently gone bankrupt or are in financial distress is near $15billion, according to new analysis from Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
Australia is seeking expressions of interest for the Northern Endeavour FPSO decommissioning project. Significantly, this could provide North Sea players the perfect opportunity to get a foothold in the rapidly expanding Australian decommissioning market.
Australia is on the verge of its largest-ever wave of decommissioning as offshore development wells reach the end of their producing life. This is both adding headaches for producers and creating a multi-billion dollar opportunity for plugging and abandonment (P&A) suppliers.
Oil and gas producers will be subject to tougher liabilities and rules around decommissioning in Australia in an effort to prevent a repeat of the Northern Endeavour fiasco, which is expected to cost taxpayers over $190 million.