Hornbeck Offshore wins multi-year decommissioning contract in North Sea

September 17, 2026, by Nadja Skopljak

Hornbeck Offshore Services, which recently merged with Helix Energy Solutions, has secured a multi-year decommissioning contract set to commence in the North Sea next year.

Well Enhancer. Source: Helix Energy Solutions

The contract by a “major operator” was awarded to the company’s subsidiary Helix Well Ops (U.K.) and will have a duration of two years, with customer options to extend, starting in the second quarter of 2027.

Hornbeck will perform riserless plug and abandonment (P&A) operations utilizing either the Well Enhancer or Seawell riserless well intervention vessels (RWIVs). The company will also deliver a fully integrated solution, including the vessel, a well access system (subsea intervention lubricator), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), saturation diving, and project management and engineering services.

“This new multi-year award builds directly on Hornbeck’s previous success and strengthens our expertise in delivering safe, efficient, rigless decommissioning solutions in the North Sea. By leveraging our asset base and extensive operational expertise, we are proud to support our customer in executing our integrated decommissioning solution under a single contract,” said Todd M. Hornbeck, Hornbeck’s President and CEO.

As reported early this month, Texas-headquartered offshore energy services provider Helix Energy Solutions and Hornbeck Offshore Services, a Louisiana-headquartered supplier of offshore transport services, completed their merger, establishing what they describe as a premier integrated offshore services company.

Hornbeck shareholders own approximately 55% and Helix shareholders approximately 45% of the combined company, which has assumed the Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. name.

The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and Covington, Louisiana, with Todd M. Hornbeck serving as President, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director, and William L. Transier being the Chairman of the Board of Directors.