Xodus Group has been awarded a contract with Nexen Petroleum U.K. to provide Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) services in support of the decommissioning of the Ettrick and Blackbird fields in the central North Sea.
According to Xodus, the work for the CNOOC’s subsidiary, Nexen, includes decommissioning the main items of field architecture, covering the structures, flowlines, umbilicals, and risers.
Andrew Wylie, Scotland Subsea Operations Manager, said: “Decommissioning in the current economic climate requires a mindset which is open to change. At Xodus, we deliver this by challenging the ‘norm’ and constantly using our clever thinking to drive innovation.”
“While offshore infrastructure is complex, a logical approach to decommissioning which makes the most of operational data, lessons learned and latest technologies can reduce costs at every stage of the process,” Wylie added.
Ettrick and Blackbird fields
Originally discovered in 1981 and brought on stream in 2009, oil and natural gas from Ettrick is produced through subsea wells that are tied back to the Aoka Mizu floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO), located about 120 km northeast of Aberdeen. Blackbird field also ties back to the Aoka Mizu FPSO.
Nexen Petroleum has a 79.73% operated interest in the Ettrick field, with non-operating stakes owned by Atlantic Petroleum UK Limited (8.27%) and Dana Petroleum Ltd (12%).
Nexen Petroleum U.K. Limited and Nexen Ettrick UK Limited hold a 90.6% interest in Blackbird, with Atlantic Petroleum UK Limited holding the remaining 9.4%.
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