The Buchan Alpha oil production vessel arrives at Veolia, Peterson decommissioning facility
WEST SUSSEX -- The Repsol Sinopec Resources UK, Buchan Alpha oil production vessel, weighing 12,000 tonnes, arrived safely in Lerwick, Shetland, on Aug. 12-13. Decommissioning of the facility is being managed by Veolia and Peterson and is believed to be the first major North Sea floating production vessel facility to be disposed of in Scotland.
A semisubmersible moored floating production vessel, weighing 12,000 tonnes, Buchan Alpha was built in 1973 as a drilling rig and converted for production purposes in Stornoway between 1978-80. The vessel commenced production in 1981 from the Buchan field, located in blocks 21/1A and 20/5A, and has subsequently also produced the nearby Hannay field. Production ceased, as planned, on May 12, 2017, having produced around 148 MMbbl of oil.
The contract for disposal was internationally tendered and awarded to Veolia working with their strategic partner in decommissioning, Peterson, who have a proven safety and environmental track record in the decommissioning of oil and gas assets. The work will be carried out at the Dales Voe site in Lerwick. Buchan Alpha is believed to be the first major North Sea floating production facility to be disposed of in Scotland.
Off-station work on Buchan Alpha has been ongoing, with the primary objectives of cleaning, and reducing topsides weight in preparation for tow. It will initially be moored offshore Lerwick in deeper water, where the thrusters will be removed to reduce the draught, allowing it to be moved to the quayside within the next few weeks.
Veolia will then begin the dismantling of the steel structure to maximize the recycling rate with the aim of achieving 98% recycling rates.
