CNR’s decom plan for Ninian Northern platform approved

CNR International (U.K.) Limited’s decommissioning program for its Ninian Northern large steel platform, which is located in the UK sector of the North Sea, has been approved by UK authorities.

The Ninian Northern platform is located in the UK sector of the North Sea, approximately 100 miles North-East of the Shetland Islands and is approximately 240 miles North-North-East of Aberdeen in UKCS Block 3/03.

The Ninian field development program originally comprised a two-platform strategy: Ninian Southern Platform (NSP) and Ninian Central Platform (NCP).

NNP was installed in June 1978 in order to ensure optimum exploitation of the northern part of the field. The platform was designed to operate as a satellite flowing wellhead fluids directly to NCP, although equipped to partially process all fluids. Production from NNP started in August 1980 reaching its peak in June 1981 with a rate of 89,587 BOPD.

The NNP is a combined drilling and production platform supported by an 8-leg welded steel jacket installed in position with 26 piles, and standing in a water depth of 141 meters.

Crude oil is exported to NCP via a 24″ pipeline (PL71) and co-mingled with NCP for processing and exporting to Sullom Voe Terminal. NNP is gas deficient and has imported fuel gas from NCP since 1998.

A Cessation of Production application was submitted in August 2016 and accepted by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) in November 2016. Permanent COP took place on May 18, 2017, following a period of one month’s notice to the OGA.

This decommissioning program will be to plug and abandon platform wells and fully remove the topsides to shore for recycling/disposal and partially remove the jacket. Footings will remain in situ.

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