Fairfield outlines North Sea Dunlin pipeline proposals
April 11, 2019
Fairfield Energy has prepared a consultation draft program to support the planned decommissioning of the 34-km (21-mi) Dunlin Alpha to Cormorant Alpha pipeline in the UK northern North Sea and associated infrastructure.
Offshore staff
ABERDEEN, UK– Fairfield Energy has prepared a consultation draft program to support the planned decommissioning of the 34-km (21-mi) Dunlin Alpha to Cormorant Alpha pipeline in the UK northern North Sea and associated infrastructure.
The proposal is for the surface-laid ends of the pipeline to be cut and removed for recycling, leaving the remaining pipeline largely trenched beneath the seafloor.
Fairfield plans to apply to cover the cut locations of the exposed pipeline ends and any identified areas of spanning in order to provide protection against potential snagging hazards.
In addition, the company will remove partially-buried concrete mattresses, anode skids and pipeline connection spools. However, buried grout bags and mattresses that provide pipeline stability and protect against movement and spans will remain in place, and rock cover applied where needed.
Any oilfield debris adjacent to the pipeline will be recovered. Results from a planned seabed clearance survey will serve as the basis for developing a monitoring regime for the decommissioned pipeline with the UK regulator and its consultees.
