Mermaid Subsea achieves record year for North Sea decommissioning

Mermaid Subsea Services (UK) Ltd has set a new industry benchmark for North Sea decommissioning. Across the course of 2024 the Aberdeen-headquartered company successfully plugged and abandoned (P&A) 30 wells in the UK North Sea using the Island Valiant vessel.

Notably, this is the highest number of vessel-based well decommissioning operations ever completed in a single year within the region.

Among the completed projects was a 21 well P&A campaign for a North Sea operator, believed to be the largest vessel-based North Sea decommissioning campaign in history. Separately, Mermaid completed the first stage of a major North Sea decommissioning contract for Shell U.K. Limited, with the subsequent phases to follow in 2025 and 2026.

“It has been a monumental year for Mermaid, one that has cemented our position as a major player in the North Sea subsea and P&A market," said Scott Cormack, Regional Director for Mermaid Subsea Services (UK). “The whole Mermaid team should be very proud of the part they have played in achieving this historic milestone and I would like to thank each and every one of them for the work they have put in right through 2024.

“Recent research from Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) found that operators need to plug 200 abandoned North Sea oil and gas wells a year to stay on top of targets. If the sector is to achieve this it will require the market to deliver innovative decommissioning models, like the vessel-based solution offered by Mermaid.”

With this milestone, Mermaid continues to lead the charge in delivering safe, efficient, and sustainable decommissioning services. It also reflects the company’s commitment to supporting the UK’s energy transition and regulatory compliance in offshore well abandonment.

Last year’s P&A milestone was accompanied by an associated increase in headcount, with Mermaid growing significantly. And the company has plans to grow its presence in Westhill further in 2025 in response to the company’s swelling backlog.

After the successes of 2024 - and following a run of recent project wins - Mermaid has agreed a deal to charter the Valiant vessel for another season. This will be supported by the introduction of Mermaid’s very own dive vessel, which is due to enter the North Sea market in 2025.

“It is clear from the demand for Mermaid’s unique and tailored offering that the North Sea market requires another contractor to tackle the mammoth amount of work that is coming down the pipeline," added Cormack.

“With new additions, contract wins and completed projects, 2024 was an immensely successful year for Mermaid and we look forward to building on this further in 2025 when we will be bringing our own dive vessel to the region.”