TAQA UK has completed a major phase in the decommissioning of its North Cormorant platform, following the safe removal and load-in of the topsides at Dales Voe in Shetland. The successful operation marks the completion of the topsides removal phase of North Cormorant’s decommissioning and will see a significant part of the project’s decommissioning scope delivered in the UK.
Weighing more than 17,000 tonnes, the topsides were removed in a single lift by Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit, the world’s largest heavy-lift construction vessel, before being transported to Dales Voe, in Shetland where Brown & Mason Group will manage the dismantling. At least 97% of the materials will be recycled.
The Northern North Sea platform achieved first oil in February 1982 and went on to produce more than 467 million barrels of oil over more than four decades of operations, making a significant contribution to UK energy production. North Cormorant ceased production in June 2024 and disembarked in January 2025.
TAQA UK Managing Director, Sandy Hutchison, said: 'The safe removal and delivery of the North Cormorant topsides is a significant achievement and marks the completion of a major phase in the decommissioning of an asset that has been an important part of the UK North Sea for more than four decades.
'An operation of this scale requires years of careful planning, engineering expertise and close collaboration. Importantly, bringing the topsides to Shetland means this significant decommissioning scope will be delivered here in the UK, supporting the specialist capability and expertise that will be increasingly important as North Sea decommissioning activity grows.
'North Cormorant has a proud legacy, and I would like to recognise everyone across TAQA UK, Allseas and our wider supply chain who have contributed to safely and responsibly reaching this important milestone.'
TAQA UK’s multi-year North Sea decommissioning programme involves the removal and disposal of more than 120,000 tonnes of offshore infrastructure.
Jeroen van der Sman, Project Manager at Allseas, said: 'Thanks to a carefully planned and executed offshore preparation campaign, supported by Oceanic, the removal operation was completed in a matter of hours and the entire North Cormorant topsides safely delivered to Dales Voe the next day.'
“The lift also marks a special milestone for Allseas, taking place exactly ten years after Pioneering Spirit completed its first single-lift operation. North Cormorant demonstrates how our single-lift technology has matured into a proven solution for the safe and efficient removal of large and complex offshore structures.'
Alex Hadden, SHEQ Director, Brown & Mason Group, said: 'We congratulate the teams at TAQA and Allseas, alongside the wider project team, on safely and successfully completing this complex phase of the decommissioning programme. Our role now is to deliver a safe and practical dismantling methodology that maximises material recovery, with a confident target of at least 97% reuse or recycling.
'The scale of this milestone demonstrates the significant capability that exists in Shetland. We are proud to combine that established local expertise with our own experience, working with the local supply chain as we establish a long-term presence in the region.'
Source: TAQA
