North Sea Ninian platform undergoes controlled explosion at Shetland base

June 7, 2021
Veolia and Peterson have successfully collapsed the decommissioned Ninian North platform using explosives at their Dales Voe decommissioning facility in Shetland.

Offshore staff

ABERDEEN, UK – Veolia and Peterson have successfully collapsed the decommissioned Ninian North platform using explosives at their Dales Voe decommissioning facility in Shetland.

The structure, which had served the CNR-operated Ninian field in the UK northern North Sea, arrived at Dales Voe last August following removal by Allseas’ vessel Pioneering Spirit.

Veolia’s decommissioning team then decontaminated the structure, removing all hazardous materials to facilitate a future, ‘environmentally friendly’ demolition.

The platform comprised a 14,200-metric ton (15,653-ton) steel structure delivered on eight legs, each around 30 m (98 ft) tall.

To safeguard personnel working at height and to allow for remote demolition via specialist excavators, planning operations allowed the explosive collapse of the platform legs to bring the structure much closer to the ground. The demolition phase now begins, with a recycling target of 97%.

06/07/2021