(WO) — DeepOcean has secured a contract from bp to support decommissioning and recycling activities at the Foinaven field, located West of Shetland on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).
Under the agreement, DeepOcean will remove 10 flexible process risers, three dynamic subsea umbilicals and one static umbilical from the former Foinaven FPSO location. The scope also includes recovery of buoyancy modules, riser protection systems, clamps and other associated subsea equipment.
The project will be managed and executed from DeepOcean’s Aberdeen operations center and includes engineering, project management and offshore execution services. Offshore work will be carried out using one of the company’s subsea construction vessels.
The contract marks the second time bp and DeepOcean have utilized an innovative sale-and-purchase agreement model for subsea decommissioning work, following similar projects at the Don and Miller fields.
“We greatly appreciate the opportunity to support bp in another important decommissioning scope on the UKCS,” said Øyvind Mikaelsen, CEO of DeepOcean. “By building on the successful model previously implemented with bp at the Miller and Don fields, we have established a robust framework that delivers greater efficiency, cost optimisation, and operational flexibility for both parties.”
Foinaven, discovered in 1992 and brought onstream in 1997, is located approximately 190 km west of the Shetland Islands in water depths ranging from 330 m to 530 m. Prior to the removal of the FPSO in 2021, the field produced approximately 440 million bbl of oil—roughly double the volume originally expected during development planning.
According to DeepOcean, the project reflects a growing focus on applying engineering expertise and new commercial models to improve efficiency and value recovery in offshore decommissioning projects.
“Decommissioning has traditionally been viewed primarily as a cost exercise,” said Robin Mawhinney, executive vice president for DeepOcean’s EMEA region. “At DeepOcean, we see it as an opportunity to apply engineering, technology, and commercial flexibility to improve project outcomes and recover value for our clients.”
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