Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) has commenced the first major asset removal project and one of the largest topside removal projects of its kind in the North Sea.
The Brae Bravo platform, first commissioned in 1988, is being removed over three separate phases in 2021 and 2022, using two of the world’s largest semi-submersible crane vessels (SSCVs). Marking the first time that these vessels have converged in the North Sea, Heerema’s Thialf and Sleipnir are each greater than 200 metres in length.
The first campaign, which began in April, saw the two SSCVs simultaneously in the field for several days to prepare and ultimately remove the flare tower, bridge and jacket. Thialf remains in the field to complete final preparatory works and module separation to allow final removal in the summer. For the second campaign, Sleipnir will remove the remaining topsides during two trips to the field during the summer of 2021, at which point the only remaining visible element of Brae Bravo will be the top of the jacket above the sea surface. A dedicated navigational aid will be placed on the remaining structure and a 500-metre safety zone will remain in place until jacket decommissioning is completed in 2022. Read more…
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