DECOMMISSIONING
the next two decades, with at least 75% of the cost coming from the UK taxpayer. At present, removal of oil & gas platforms is a costly process, with specialist ships such as the new Swiss- owned Pioneering Spirit rumoured to have cost in excess of US$3 billion. Tis vessel, now long overdue, will command huge hire charges by its owners.
VALUABLE EXPERIENCE Glass has a wealth of experience at sea and in the oil industry. He started his career with Ellerman Lines before going offshore in 1983 as a chief engineer on diving support ships. His nautical career then took him to every corner of the globe including Australia, Brazil, the Middle East and Malaysia. In the early 1980s, while working out of Aberdeen he met Craig Lang, who now owns Seaways Engineering – a partnership that has stood the test of time and led to the pair putting their collective expertise together towards the development of a more cost- effective alternative for the removal of oil platforms. Lang’s previous inventions (e.g. the
Apache Reelship, Steel Risers in catenary) have already reduced oil production costs considerably and his design of the multi- purpose semi-submersible (MPSS), on which the new solution, NESSIE (novel extended semi-submersible), is based, is approved by Shell with several versions already in operation worldwide. “I’m very concerned that as things stand, because we don’t have an alternative operational at the moment, the tax money to decommission the platforms will be paid to foreign companies and will create jobs for thousands of foreign workers, rather than supporting UK-based shipyards and steel mills that are closing down with the loss of jobs for thousands of UK workers,” comments Joe Glass. “Te solution is quite simple in operation: we’ve created our own submersible, which we have called NESSIE,” he explains. NESSIE is a box section semi- submersible with six columns and a gate at the aft end, rather like a giant floating dry-dock. Once the vessel approaches the structure, it ballasts down, opens the gate and moves over the structure.
Using accurate laser positioning to get it into the exact position, the topside unit is lifted clear and secured at the forward end. NESSIE then positions itself until the jacket is located amidships, rigging is attached and the jacket is rotated underwater to the horizontal position, where it is secured for transport to shore. Te full-size version of NESSIE (220m x 120m) is capable of handling the largest North Sea structures, while a smaller version (60m x 60m) is capable of lifting the smaller structures commonly located in the southern North Sea in a single lift.
SO WHAT’S NEXT? Glass has estimated that NESSIE can be built at less than 10% of the cost of the Pioneering Spirit and operated at a correspondingly lower day rate. However, the cost of further development is prohibitive and he has been actively canvassing politicians and industry leaders for support and looking to the oil & gas sector for financial funding. Te results are promising. Seaways
Engineering has been approved by OGIC (Oil and Gas Innovation Centre) for 50% funding for Strathclyde University to carry out further research. Tis will include a desktop study to prove stability of the vessel and analyse the lifting arrangement of the jacket, a detailed animation showing the procedure
and the fabrication and tank testing of a 4m long model. Glass says: “Te cost of further work is
expensive and we’ve exhausted our R&D budget. I need either the government or a leading oil company to look at our plans and the fully working model with a view to putting in sufficient funds to enable a full size prototype to be made. Our financial target is a further £20,000 to make things happen. Ironically, this is literally a drop in the ocean compared to the benefits. Te sad thing is I know this will work and I truly believe that it will save companies and the government billions of pounds in the long term. “Te other benefit is that it will slash costs and bring much needed jobs to the North East. I’d love to be able to have a fleet of NESSIEs built in the North East of England while we still have the experience and technical know-how to do it. Tis could be a major jobs boost for the region at a time when steel works and shipyards are closing down. Te billions saved will regenerate towns and blighted areas in the North East and Scotland and help create new industries associated with decommissioning. “I’m an engineer and I’m used to solving problems. Tis is probably the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced but I know that once the oil & gas industry sees the benefits of NESSIE, it will invest in her. l
NESSIE is a box section semi-submersible with six columns and a gate at the aft end
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