Jaime Kammerzell
Gulf of Mexico Editor
Offshore

When the deconstruction and removal of the Ekofisk tank's topside in the North Sea starts this summer, DNV will have completed risk-based verification methods to assist in the decommissioning.

The project, which involves the dismantling and removal of 24,000 tonnes of topside facilities, is in its engineering and planning phase and will start offshore in summer 2005.

A risk-based verification approach balances the efforts to control the operational and technological risks. It also provides for cost and time savings by focusing on criticality.

DNV describes the high-risk elements in a verification plan together with the method of examination and verification. This methodology ensures that the focus is on critical elements through the whole deconstruction and removal project.

The removal contractor will use excavators to cut steelwork and process equipment into suitable pieces for container transport to shore and then to recycling.

DNV has been awarded a contract that involves safety, health, environmental, and structural verification of the engineering and planning of the project. This will take place prior to any offshore deconstruction or removal.

Norwegian North Sea oil production began in 1971 when Ekofisk came onstream. Today, the Ekofisk field is still among the largest oil producers on the Norwegian continental shelf, and is expected to continue producing for at least another two decades.

The Ekofisk tank was used as an oil storage tank for 25 years, starting in 1974. Since 1998, it has not been used for any specific operations. The tank's height – including its outside protection wall – is 106 m, while its diameter is 140 m.

05/02/05