Cutting through complexity

True to its slogan, “Cutting through complexity”, AF Claxton uses its proprietary technology to make cutting operations safer, faster and more efficient while reducing their environmental impact. AF Claxton and its sister company, AF Probe, became part of AF Gruppen in May this year, bringing 400 new employees into the Group across Norway, the UK, Singapore, Australia, Abu Dhabi and the USA.

The company recently faced a complex challenge in the Gulf of Thailand: preparing a platform jacket weighing more than 1,100 tonnes for reuse at a new location around 20 kilometres away, without damaging the structure.

The team had to cut all four piles at precisely the same depth, five metres below the seabed, so the jacket could be towed away and reinstalled. They removed the soil plugs from inside the jacket legs to provide access for AF Claxton's specialised xcalibre abrasive waterjet cutting system, supported by the company’s international team of technical experts.

“This project reflects AF's ambition to clear up the past and build for the future. By making it possible to relocate and reuse an existing platform jacket, we've helped our client deliver both a technical and environmental success,” says Sam Hanton, CEO of AF Claxton.

The jacket was prepared for safe relocation and full reuse, reducing the need for new materials and the amount of waste generated. Rather than constructing a new platform support structure, the operator was able to extend the life of an existing asset, reducing both project costs and environmental impact.

The acquisition of AF Claxton and AF Probe brings together companies with similar values and a shared entrepreneurial mindset.

“By combining AF Claxton’s innovative capabilities, specialist equipment and proprietary technologies with our existing operations, we can offer customers a broader range of services across offshore decommissioning, offshore wind and conventional energy,” says Lars Myhre Hjelmeset, EVP Offshore at AF Gruppen.

Following a thorough due diligence process and the development of a shared integration plan, Sam says there have been few surprises so far.

“I have been impressed by the positive energy across the Group and by how warmly we have been welcomed. One of the things that has impressed me most is the sheer diversity of AF's activities. It is not often that you find the same organisation involved in projects as varied as airports, Viking museums, ship tunnels and offshore decommissioning. Yet across all of those businesses there is a clear entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to challenge conventional thinking” says Sam.

The acquisitions strengthen AF’s offshore operations by adding expertise, technology and equipment, while creating opportunities to develop services in growth areas such as offshore wind and adjacent markets.

Customers often turn to AF Claxton for its advice, experience, innovative thinking and ability to deliver quickly. This may involve developing a system to intervene in an existing well, applying innovative cutting technology to platform decommissioning, or building a bespoke tool to clean offshore wind farm foundations.

Being part of AF creates new opportunities across the Group and gives AF Gruppen a stronger international presence in the decommissioning and renewable energy markets.

“I want AF Claxton and AF Probe to be recognised as an integral part of AF's international growth story, and as organisations that set the benchmark in our markets. Success for me means being recognised for our people, our performance and the value we create for our customers” says Sam.

AF Claxton is a specialist engineering and offshore services company with more than 40 years of experience in the energy industry. The company began by providing wellhead installation and maintenance services and has since developed extensive capabilities in offshore cutting and decommissioning. Today, it also provides specialist solutions for offshore wind, applying its engineering expertise and technology to challenges such as monopile cleaning, cutting and recovery.

AF Probe is AF Claxton’s sister company and manufactures, fabricates, inspects, assembles and tests high-quality equipment for service and supply companies in the energy sector, helping to optimise asset productivity and performance.