EnerMech Secures Major Decommissioning Project in the Gulf of Mexico
EnerMech, an Aberdeen-headquartered integrated solutions specialist, has recently announced the acquisition of a significant decommissioning assignment for a 25-year-old oil and gas project in the Gulf of America, formerly known as the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
This latest endeavor involves a complete flowline decommissioning package with ExxonMobil for the Hoover Diana development in the U.S. Gulf. This marks EnerMech’s inaugural major decommissioning campaign in the region and showcases the company’s strategic approach, integrated capabilities, and offshore operational expertise.
Charles ‘Chuck’ Davison Jr., CEO of EnerMech, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating: “The Hoover-Diana project represents our first large-scale decommissioning venture in the Gulf of Mexico, following our successful partnership with ExxonMobil in Guyana. Executing a comprehensive end-of-lifecycle project of this magnitude necessitates a highly skilled workforce.”
“Winning this new contract through a competitive tender underscores our profound expertise, integrated services, and the trust ExxonMobil continues to place in our team. Our proactive engagement has enabled us to develop a customized methodology that optimizes efficiencies, mitigates risks, and ensures a safe, cost-effective execution,” Davison added.
Moreover, a specialized team integrating various service lines from EnerMech’s Energy Solutions division will be mobilized, including coiled tubing, pressure pumping, chemical services, filtration, separation, and pipeline gauging.
Situated approximately 160 miles south of Galveston, Texas, the Hoover and Diana oil and gas fields have been a prominent offshore development since 2000. Utilizing pioneering deep draft caisson vessel (DDCS) technology, these fields set a world record for deepwater drilling and production depths.
Jon Felton, EnerMech’s Technical Solutions Director for the Western Hemisphere, highlighted the company’s unique capabilities, stating: “Our adeptness in coordinating multiple service disciplines concurrently under one contract sets us apart.”
“We have devised a methodology that not only meets ExxonMobil’s expectations but also establishes a new standard for efficiency and safety in deepwater decommissioning,” Felton added.
The scope of work includes flushing, pigging, and filling subsea pipelines to eliminate hydrocarbons and prepare for decommissioning. Tasks encompass flushing of the umbilical, pipeline flushing, seawater fill operations for the subsea flowline loop, nitrogen flushing via subsea vessel, coiled tubing services, and final seawater filling for the Northern Diana flowline.
“As numerous offshore assets near the end of their lifecycle, the decommissioning market in the Gulf of Mexico is rapidly expanding. This project underscores our value proposition to customers and positions us for future growth in this vital sector,” Davison concluded.
The Hoover Diana project, located in 4,800 feet of water, approximately 200 miles south of Houston, commenced production in May 2000. The project features an 83-story tall DDCV that floats vertically and houses drilling and production facilities.
This recent achievement follows EnerMech’s previous win for a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) project in the UK sector of the North Sea.