Shell Brent Charlie Rig Arrives at Able Seaton Port
The arrival today at Able Seaton Port of Brent Charlie Topside is another example of how Able UK are a world leader in an industry which can bring jobs and investment into Teesside for many years to come.
The Brent Charlie platform is the largest single piece offshore topside at 31,000Te to be lifted, transported and delivered to land. This arrival is part of a long-standing Contract, which commenced in 2011, signed with Shell in 2013 for decommissioning the Brent Field platforms.
Able UK have provided above 97% recycled/re-use rates on the previously completed Topsides Delta (24,922Te), Bravo (25,272Te), Alpha (16,869Te) and will be ensuring this figure is attained or bettered for the Charlie Topside using our well-established supply chain.
The Brent Charlie is the fourth and final platform from the Shell Brent field to be decommissioned at Able Seaton. As with the previous platforms, the Brent Delta, Brent Bravo and Brent Alpha, the operation involved the giant heavy lift vessel the Allseas Pioneering Spirit, with the final stage involving the transfer to the Allseas cargo barge the Iron Lady for the tow into Able Seaton Port and to be grounded onto the Able UK engineered grounding bed in the Able Seaton Port wet dock. When all safety checks are complete the 31,000Te topside will be skidded onto Able UK’s heavy duty Quay 6 designed specifically to spread the weight of these large topside structures.
Mr Peter Stephenson, founder and Executive Chairman explained “Able UK are very proud to be an integral part of the Brent Field decommissioning project. The arrival of the Shell Charlie to Able Seaton Port is happening through a well-coordinated effort with our partners Shell and Allseas to provide this “Engineering First” of receiving a single piece topside of 31,000Te. Able UK’s port infrastructure has helped to make this long-standing contract a success and we look forward to providing this service on future large scale projects”
He went onto to say “Brent is an iconic oil and gas field and our role in its’ decommissioning is testament to our commitment to undertake complex and challenging operations to the highest environmental standards”.
“Gaining our reputation as a market leader has involved major investments at Able Seaton Port, including constructing one of the strongest quays in Europe, with the aim of both remaining at the forefront of the decommissioning industry as well as becoming a key player in providing port services for the vast potential of the increasing offshore wind sector.
“As well as decommissioning the Brent Charlie, a series of platforms and structures from the LOGGS project in the North Sea will arrive for dismantling using Quay 1 on Able Seaton Port. This is all occurring with the backdrop of the Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farm marshalling works (largest offshore wind farm in the world) at the Able Seaton Port reinforcing Able UK as the project port of choice for the largest offshore projects.
“We are uniquely placed to be engaged in the end of life process for parts of the oil and gas sector whilst at the same time being involved in the renewable energies of the future. In many respects we have the bases covered being heavily engaged at both ends of the offshore energy sectors. We look forward to providing more good news as we develop our Able Humber Port for further work in these industrial sectors.”