Energy / New decommissioning partnership at Dales Voe
ONE of Europe’s largest demolition and dismantling companies has entered into a new partnership based at the Dales Voe site in Lerwick – with the firm “actively pursuing” new decommissioning projects.
Brown & Mason, which has been operating for more than 60 years in the heavy industrial sector, has partnered with Peterson Energy Logistics to attract large-scale decommissioning projects to Shetland.
The Dales Voe base, owned by Lerwick Port Authority (LPA), has previously hosted decommissioning projects such as the dismantling of the Ninian Northern topsides and jacket.
The topsides of the Ninian Southern platform east of Shetland are among the next to be decommissioned but its operator CNR International told Shetland News that contracts are yet to be awarded.
A spokesperson said the company is working through responses to its consultation on its decommissioning proposals for the topsides and will be liaising with the regulator ahead of submission of final plans later this year.
Brown & Mason said Shetland is “ideally located” to decommission the hundreds of offshore oil assets in the UKCS (UK Continental Shelf) North and Central North Sea region which will reach end of life in the coming decades.
UK operations director Richard Brown said: “We are confident in the scale of opportunity and Dales Voe being the ideal location to launch our diversification into the offshore sector.
“As leaders in heavy industrial dismantling, and trusted partners of the energy sector, we are excited to bring our significant expertise to support this market.
“We are committed to working with the local supply chain, alongside our in-house experts and established partner Peterson Energy Logistics.”
Dales Voe has one of the strongest quaysides in the UK, engineered to accommodate significant loads of up to 60 tonnes per metre squared, with a knife-edge linkspan loads of 800 tonnes per metre.
This makes it ‘single lift’ ready and has previously accommodated topside and jacket projects.
The largest heavy lift vessel in the world, the Pioneering Spirit, has offloaded materials directly to the quayside at Dales Voe – something that is not possible elsewhere in the UK.
There have also been skidded barge load-ins from its Iron Lady barge, which is only possible due to the depth capabilities of 12.5 metres and the geography of the site.
LPA chief executive Calum Grains said: “In Lerwick, we have the capabilities and capacity to service the decommissioning industry.
“We are strategically located with the right assets and people to make this an incredibly efficient option for hundreds of offshore assets.
“Our track record handling these significant large-scale projects at Dales Voe includes the world’s largest construction vessel Pioneering Spirit first delivering the 14,200 tonnes Ninian Northern platform topsides, returning in April 2022 with the field’s 8500 tonne steel support jacket.
“Then returning for a third visit in 2024 to offload a cargo of materials direct to quayside for another North Sea project, which cannot be done elsewhere in the UK.”
Brown & Mason is in the process of the applying to take over the SEPA site operating permit and is said to be actively pursuing projects that will utilise Lerwick Harbour.
Peterson meanwhile has operated in Shetland for more than 20 years and has been heavily involved in decommissioning projects during that time.
It employs around 75 people in Shetland across a range of shorebase, lifting and technical services.
Previous work has included the logistics and load-in and out of new build and decommissioning assets, requiring complex logistical planning and engineering.
Peterson has managed decommissioning materials across a range of sizes, weights, and sectors from subsea assets to larger Northern North Sea topside and jackets as single lifts.
Alongside its engineering and logistics capabilities, Peterson operates plant, equipment, and infrastructure critical to the success of large projects including mobile and harbour cranes, axle lines of self-propelled modular transporters, and large laydown areas.
Peterson Energy Logistics’ commercial director Andrew Ellis added: “Decommissioning is an important opportunity for the island’s economy, and we are pleased to be working in partnership with Brown & Mason to offer operators expert, trusted, and innovative solutions to complex requirements.
“We’re proud to be part of a strong local supply chain which has proven itself time and time again in terms of delivering services for the largest structures and projects for the energy industry. We are ready to welcome more large-scale projects to Dales Voe with Brown & Mason.”
As well as decommissioning, the Dales Voe site is also available to support development projects in the oil and gas, offshore wind, and other sectors.
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