The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has signed on with Shelf Subsea Services Pte Ltd for the removal of the subsea infrastructure from the Tui Oil Field.
Shelf Subsea is headquartered in Perth, Western Australia with regional offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Middle East.
“Shelf Subsea was awarded the contract after a competitive procurement process to select a supplier that met MBIE’s objectives of a robust technical solution, flexibility in timing, and competitive pricing and a commitment to working with iwi and local stakeholders,” said Tui Project director, Lloyd Williams.
“Shelf Subsea has a proven track record in successfully fulfilling contracts of this type and MBIE’s Tui Project team is looking forward to working with them to advance this next phase of the decommissioning.
“Shelf Subsea’s proposed boat, the Southern Star, is a state-of-the-art vessel and will carry the specialised equipment required to complete the work safely and efficiently.”
MBIE has submitted an application for marine consents with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for the removal of the subsea infrastructure and the plugging, and abandoning, of eight wells. An Independent Board of Inquiry is considering MBIE’s application.
Subject to EPA granting the marine consents, it is anticipated the work will be carried out in the summer of 2021/22 or alternatively in the summer of 2022/23.
The first phase of the decommissioning of the Tui Oil Field, the disconnection and demobilisation of the FPSO Umuroa, was completed in May 2021. The final stage of the decommissioning process will be the plugging and abandonment of the wells in the field, expected to occur from late 2022.
MBIE and Te Kāhui o Taranaki Trust have formed a partnership for this project to ensure iwi interests and concerns are recognised and accounted for.
