McDermott at the helm of major decom job for 27 offshore platforms

February 2, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

U.S. offshore engineering and construction player McDermott has been tasked with a strategic role in offshore asset retirement, which is being undertaken by Qatar’s state-owned oil and gas giant QatarEnergy. This is described as the Persian Gulf state’s first major offshore decommissioning project.

While McDermott did not reveal the exact value of its decommissioning definition engineering contract with QatarEnergy for the State of Qatar’s inaugural offshore decommissioning initiative, the firm explained that it would develop a comprehensive technical and commercial framework and conduct detailed techno-economic studies to ensure the safe and systematic retirement and removal of 27 aging offshore platforms.

Mike Sutherland, McDermott’s Senior Vice President of Offshore Middle East, commented: “As the first decommissioning project of its kind in the country, and given the scale of assets to be retired, this award represents a significant milestone and an exciting new chapter for McDermott, QatarEnergy and the State of Qatar.

“We are uniquely positioned to deliver a landmark framework that will set new industry benchmarks and establish best-in-class standards for future decommissioning efforts in the region and beyond.”

The U.S. player’s scope of work encompasses all associated subsea infrastructure, including subsea cables and pipelines, located in the Al-Karkara, Idd El-Shargi, and Maydan Mahzam fields. The company plans to leverage its deep knowledge of these assets and global expertise in strategic offshore decommissioning to deliver a solution that prioritizes safety, efficiency and environmental responsibility.

McDermott has underlines that definition engineering will begin immediately and be led from its office in Doha. The firm believes that its engineering expertise, combined with its deep understanding of the engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) phases, ensures a seamless transition from decommissioning definition engineering to execution.

The company claims to minimize operational risk while advancing sustainable project delivery by prioritizing safety at every stage and developing environmentally responsible removal strategies tailored to the complexities of offshore operations.

Neil Gunnion, Qatar Country Head and Vice President of Operations, emphasized: “McDermott has installed the majority of Qatar’s offshore assets. We are proud to apply decades of experience to continue delivering innovative, lifecycle-focused energy solutions through our long-standing, trusted partnership with QatarEnergy.”

This deal with QatarEnergy comes shortly after McDermott won another big assignment in the Middle East, valued between $750 million and $1 billion, for an expansion project designed to boost ADNOC’s offshore oil production.