Remove and recycle Murchison

Gigantic platform bows out

The Murchison field extends across the British/Norwegian demarcation line, while the actual platform is on the British continental shelf east of the Shetland Islands. The Murchison platform, which is one of the largest steel jacket platforms in the North Sea, has been operational since 1980, and production ceased in March 2014. 

AF Gruppen's wholly owned subsidiary, AF Decom Offshore U.K. Limited, in a consortium with Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland SE (Heerema-AF Consortium), entered into an agreement with CNR, Canadian Natural Resources International (U.K.) Limited, for the removal and recycling of the Murchison platform in the North Sea. 

Heerema and AF Gruppen can boast of a successful collaboration over many years regarding removal and recycling assignments in the North Sea, with good HSE statistics, technical execution and predictable implementation.

Spectacular clean-up operation

With 130 employees offshore at all times, unstable weather conditions, costly equipment and stringent HSE requirements, the project team had a demanding planning job ahead of them. 

At an early stage, the project team came up with the idea of using two of the largest heavy-lift vessels in the world in order to remove the platform more effectively and more safely. A so-called “Two-Vessel-Scenario” has never previously been used. 

During summer 2016, the platform's superstructure was removed and transported to the Environmental Base at Vats during the course of three short months. 

During spring 2017, the substructure was removed and recycling will continue until 2020 with the goal of a 96% recycling rate. 

The project will conclude in 2020 – one year ahead of the original plan, and has thus far been carried out without any injuries.