The ocean services provider DeepOcean is about to complete a contract awarded by TotalEnergies for the disconnection and towing of the FPSO Gryphon Alpha, as well as the removal of the associated subsea infrastructure.
The scope of work included the cleaning of subsea pipelines and manifolds, the disconnection of flowlines and umbilicals from the trees, the removal of risers and mid-water arches, and the recovery of the FPSO’s moorings. Once disconnected, DeepOcean also managed the towing of the FPSO.
“This project is an exceptional achievement for DeepOcean. We have a world-leading track record in finding unique ways to execute complex subsea operations using our in-house expertise in design, technology, and tools. The custom tools, created for this scope of work, allowed us to perform it entirely using diverless methodologies, which produced exemplary results. Everyone involved in the design, construction, and offshore operations should be extremely proud of what they have achieved,” stated Robin Mawhinney, Managing Director of DeepOcean UK.
The project was executed by the DeepOcean team in Aberdeen, UK, with support from the company’s office in Haugesund, Norway, as needed. The project is about to be completed, with the recovery of the mooring chains and the removal of the risers and mid-water arches planned before the end of the year.
Gryphon Alpha was the first FPSO built specifically for the North Sea, with permanent mooring, and was initially commissioned by the operator Kerr McGee. Subsequently, the asset was acquired by Maersk Oil and later by TotalEnergies through its merger in 2018. Although the field was initially expected to have a lifespan of just ten years, it has exceeded expectations, producing more than 250 million barrels of oil equivalent over three decades of operation.
