TAQA UK has marked a major milestone in its North Sea decommissioning programme with the safe removal of the Eider Alpha topside, the first Northern North Sea (NNS) platform to reach the topside removal and dismantling phase.
Weighing 11,640 tonnes, the Eider topside was lifted in a single operation by Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit, the world’s largest heavy-lift construction vessel, before being transported to the AF Environmental Base in Vats, Norway, for dismantling and disposal. The topside, which forms the part of the platform above sea level, will be processed for dismantling and recycling in line with TAQA’s target of achieving up to 97% materials recovery across its decommissioning activities.
The project follows several years of planning and preparation, including a 90-day programme of specialist works to ensure a safe and efficient lift using the Allseas Oceanic vessel. It marks the start of a series of offshore lifts in the coming years under a long-term contract awarded to Allseas in 2022.
TAQA UK Managing Director, Sandy Hutchison, said: 'The removal of Eider heralds a new phase for TAQA UK as we enter the dismantling stage of our Northern North Sea portfolio. It underlines our expertise and leadership in safe and efficient late-life operations and decommissioning and speaks volumes for the efforts of our teams and suppliers who have delivered this project safely and responsibly.'
'Our first major decommissioning project, Brae Bravo in 2022, was one of the largest topside removals in the North Sea, setting the standard for future decommissioning while demonstrating TAQA’s position as a pioneer in this field.'
With production from Eider now ceased, the removal of the topside also brings a reduction in operational emissions from maintaining the platform, further supporting TAQA UK’s safe and responsible wind-down of its late-life assets.
The engineering, preparation, removal and disposal contract (EPRD) for TAQA UK’s NNS assets – is the largest single UK decommissioning contract awarded to date. As part of this contract, as well as Eider, Allseas will also undertake the EPRD decommissioning programme for North Cormorant, Tern and Cormorant Alpha.
Dismantling contracts for Cormorant Alpha and Tern topsides, two of the North Sea’s most significant decommissioning projects, have been awarded to Able’s Seaton Port facility in the UK, aligning with TAQA UK’s long-term commitment to supporting the UK’s energy sector and local communities during its decommissioning activities.
Eider has been a significant contributor to the UK’s energy security for almost four decades. Installed in 1988, the platform produced around 175 million barrels of oil equivalent during its lifetime, peaking at 55,000 barrels of oil per day, and later supported production from the nearby Otter field, which was connected to the platform through subsea infrastructure. Since assuming operatorship in 2008, TAQA UK invested significantly in extending the platform’s economic life and ensuring safe operation until cessation of production in 2018. Until 2024, Eider supplied power generation to North Cormorant as well as the subsea controls and utilities for Otter.
Original announcement link (with photo)
Source: TAQA UK
