Dismantling and recycling of Curlew FPSO
The project covered the engineering, preparation, dismantling and recycling of the Curlew FPSO for Shell UK, the first FPSO to be decommissioned and recycled in Norway.
About the project
The project involved a pioneering float-over-float-in operation, a decommissioning solution that had never before been executed at this scale globally. The vessel was subsequently brought to AF Environmental Base Vats for dismantling and recycling.
- Project type
- Offshore removal and recycling
- Contract type
- EPRD
- Project status
- Completed
- LocationVestlandet, Nordsjøen
- CustomerShell UK
- Tonn til gjenvinning25,000
- Den første konkrete leveransen av oppsirkulering av stål fra AF Miljøbase Vats20 tonn
The challenge
The Curlew FPSO project required the removal and recycling of a large offshore production vessel from the UK sector of the North Sea.
A key challenge was the chosen decommissioning solution. The float-over-float-in operation had never previously been used on such a large scale, creating significant engineering and execution complexity. In addition to transporting the vessel safely to shore, the project required extensive preparation work before dismantling and recycling could begin.
- Asset type: FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel)
- Length: 235 metres
- Weight on arrival: Approx 25,000 tons
- Weight after preparation: 21,000 tons
The Solution
An integrated decommissioning solution covering:
- Engineering
- Preparatory works
- Marine operations
- Dismantling
- Recycling
The vessel was transported to AF Environmental Base Vats, where preparations were carried out ahead of the offshore-to-onshore transfer. Following successful completion of the float-over-float-in operation, the hull was transferred to the quayside for final dismantling and material recovery.
