Northern Producer Decommissioning

Location
Kishorn Port, UK
Client
Qualimar Shipping Limited/Northern Offshore UK Ltd
Status
Completed 2024

Overview

Liberty Industrial was engaged by Qualimar Shipping Limited/Northern Offshore UK ltd for the decontamination, demolition and disposal of the 11,200 tonne Northern Producer Floating Production Platform in 2023. The unique project adopted a first of its kind approach for such an asset, with decommissioning occurring in a dry dock. Explosives were placed in 38 locations, making it one of the largest single use of explosives at a demolition site in Europe at the time of the project.

Challenges

  • Remote location on the west coast of Scotland, posing challenges for logistics, supply chain, and labour force availability.
  • Limited information on the asset and potential hazardous materials, posing risks and uncertainties during the planning of HAZMAT removal & Decontamination works.
  • Unknown quantities of waste to be processed, particularly NORM.
  • Preservation of dry dock infrastructure, dock wall & floor, drainage management systems and the rockface while also meeting the explosive demolition requirements.
  • Preservation of the surrounding area's natural beauty and wildlife, including roaming wild sheep, cattle, deer, otters, fish, birds, and domesticated horses.
  • Minimising disruption to the port's live activities, including serving drill rigs, an onsite fish farm and commercial marine activities.
  • Addressing local community interests and concerns, particularly regarding industry integration, blast impact, and road congestion on the popular North Coast 500 route.
  • Aggressive schedule: a 10-month program executed during the Scottish winter, posing threats of shutdowns and delays.

Robust Solutions/Exceptional Outcomes

Robust Solutions

  • Maximising local participation and sourcing experienced, qualified labour from Northeast England, a proven hub for decommissioning, while drawing on project management expertise from Australia.
  • Drone surveys were conducted to enable ASI to create a 3D model of the asset using their Extreme Loading Software to assist with the structural engineering and explosive felling activity.
  • Collaborating with PDC and ASI to finalise the explosive demolition design that would reduce the height of the structure, along with using over 4,500t of rock to act as an impact cushion, ensuring a safe controlled blowdown that protected the dry docks infrastructure.
  • Surveys and hazardous materials inspections were conducted to assist with filling knowledge gaps and support with the HAZMAT removal works.
  • Managing hazards via established and proven waste management processes, supported by carefully selected and experienced subcontractors.
  • Early engagement and regular consultation with SEPA and HSE was important to discuss and inform the regulators of our timelines and project intent leading up to and after the explosive blast.
  • This facilitated a better understanding and a different perspective of priorities, and requirements related to licence compliance and CDM standards.
  • Community and neighbouring stakeholders were regularly informed of blowdown plans and any inconvenience expected 2 weeks, 1 week, and 1 day before the blowdown. Liberty Industrial distributed community notification letters to entities and approximately 100 residents and directly engaged with local traffic management and port services for road and marine traffic controls, providing information on the blowdown.

 

Exceptional Outcomes

  • The project adopted a first of its kind approach for such an asset, with decommissioning in a dry dock in a remote region, leveraging international experts, and incorporating best practice and explosive demolition methodologies.
  • It’s a second major contract for Liberty Industrial in the UK.
  • Exceptional performance in breadth and depth of the recycling program, going the extra mile to deliver recycling across multiple categories including ferrous steel, non-ferrous materials, marine growth, repurposing used plant & equipment and achieving a recycling rate of 97%.
  • Positive reviews and feedback from employees and partners, specifically in respect to mutual value, ease of doing business, sustainability values, procedures and safety protocols.
  • Zero HSE lost time incidents or reportable incidents.

 

Award

World Demolition Awards 2024 Winner – Explosive Demolition Project of the Year

Liberty Industrial was awarded the Explosive Demolition Project of the Year for our Northern Producer Decommissioning Project at the 2024 World Demolition Awards.

This world demolition award is our first award for our work in the UK, we hope to expand into further international markets where our commitment to excellence and safety will be of benefit.

Value Add

01

Closure Consulting

Long-term closure planning, budgets and redevelopment strategies for redundant sites, including Early Contractor Involvement and detailed estimates.

02

Deconstruction

Use of best approach demolition and dismantling such as explosive using world class fleet, safety and engineering methodologies in explosives and rigging.

03

Decontamination and Industrial Cleaning

Designing engineered solutions for decontamination such as removal of asbestos, heavy metals, PCBs, dioxins, PFAS and NORMs.

04

Asset and Resource Recovery

Comprehensive waste and recycling management to contribute to the circular economy to extend the lifecycle of materials.

values-bg

Liberty Industrial Completes Award Winning Northern Producer Decommissioning Project and Delivers Exemplary Recycling Program

Liberty Industrial Delivers Innovative & Bespoke Solutions on a Global Scale Winning Two World Demolition Awards for projects in Australia and Scotland

News

World Class Approach by Liberty Industrial Delivers Two Safe and Successful Explosive Events in Gove, NT

News

integrated capability responsible decommissioning

decommissioning closure and asset liability consulting

consulting risk management engineered solutions 3d simulation

and simulation liberty modelling dismantling and asset

dismantling and asset recovery synchronised safety

deconstruction resource recovery and recycling expert delivery

high expert industrial delivery reach consulting

expert delivery high reach explosive induced collapse

collapse specialised contracting decontamination

decontamination cleaning remediation environmental stewards

stewards risk mitigation and management waste disposal

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