The Australian Government Selects Kent for Offshore Oilfield Decommissioning
The Australian Government has chosen Dubai-based engineering and services company Kent to assist in the permanent plugging and abandonment of two oilfields in the Timor Sea, offshore Australia. The fields, known as Laminaria-Corallina, are located approximately 550 kilometers west-north-west of Darwin and 160 kilometers south of Timor.
Under a two-year technical advisory services contract, Kent’s team of technical and regulatory experts will provide strategic and operational support throughout the decommissioning phase. This includes the safe removal of associated subsea infrastructure.
Michael Costello, Executive Vice President of Development for APAC & Americas at Kent, expressed pride in supporting the safe transition of offshore assets while prioritizing environmental outcomes and technical integrity. The advisory team, with extensive experience in Australia and the UK, is enthusiastic about shaping the future of offshore decommissioning.
In 2019, the owner of the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel Northern Endeavour went into liquidation, leaving the Australian government responsible for removing the FPSO and rehabilitating the Laminaria-Corallina fields. Kent is also involved in supporting the decommissioning of the FPSO, which will be carried out in three stages.
In a recent development, Modern American Recycling Services, Europe (MARS) secured the contract to recycle the FPSO and manage the waste streams, including hazardous waste. The FPSO will be dry towed by COSCO Shipping Heavy Transport’s vessel, the Hua Rui Long, to MARS’ ship recycling facility in Frederikshavn, Denmark.