Xodus Group has carried out a concept study and Front End Engineering Design (FEED) project for a North Sea operator and determined that the operator will save up to £59 million by adopting a Not Normally Attended (NNA) status ahead of decommissioning the field.

The North Sea field recently completed well plugging & abandonment (P&A) programmes for two platforms. A third platform is not due to start for at least two years and although it operated as a manned facility, it ceased production several years ago.

The operator required support to convert the platform to a minimum facilities asset which would significantly reduce abandonment support costs over a six-year period until the final decommissioning programme begins.

Following a competitive tender process, Xodus initiated a concept study in October 2017 which was closely followed by a FEED project in December 2017. The transition of the platform to NNA status has now been completed, the company informed.

Babak Alnasser, Xodus’ technical safety & risk manager and project manager for the work, said: “The objective of the project was to look at the technical and economic feasibility of taking the manned platform with all the associated maintenance, inspection, operation and cost that goes along with it, and move it to a minimum facilities asset.

“With it being the first asset in the operator’s portfolio that is transitioning to NNA mode, there was always going to be significant learning. However, the close collaborative working relationship between the companies and the coordination between our multi-discipline teams led to the successful delivery of the project.”