Wood Group to prepare Brent Bravo platform for removal

Offshore services provider Wood Group has been awarded a contract to support Shell in the decommissioning of the Brent Bravo platform in the North Sea.

Wood Group will prepare the platform for removal via single lift methodology. This includes conductor removal, structural strengthening and installation of under deck lift points, in addition to the modifications required to enable the platform to operate on minimum manning mode.

Dave Stewart, CEO for Wood Group’s Asset Life Cycle Solutions business in the Eastern region, said: “We have over four decades of experience supporting Shell’s Brent field and this new contract clearly demonstrates our client’s trust in our consistent delivery of innovative and efficient technical services that have been designed for offshore decommissioning challenges.

“We will leverage our learnings from the delivery of the Brent Delta decommissioning scope. Our commitment is to continuing to work in partnership with Shell to ensure the safe, cost efficient and timely execution of the contract.”

The Brent Bravo lift follows the recent Brent Delta decommissioning, which was carried out by Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit vessel. The Brent Bravo platform ceased production in November 2014. First oil from the platform started flowing in November 1976.

The Shell-operated field Brent field, located 115 miles north-east of the Shetland Islands has produced around three billion barrels of oil equivalent since production started in 1976, which is almost 10% of UK production.

The Brent decommissioning program recommends that the upper steel jacket on the Brent Alpha platform is removed, along with the topsides of the four Brent platforms, debris lying on the seabed, and the attic oil contained within the concrete storage cells of the gravity base structures.