InterMoor completes Brazil FPSO decom job

InterMoor's Brazilian subsidiary successfully completed its involvement in the decommissioning operations of the OSX-1 FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading).

InterMoor was responsible for the disconnection of the submerged turret production system (STP), allowing the vessel to navigate to its final destination, and providing additional services:

• Engineering services, including operation procedures and dynamic analysis for overboarding and installation of the cone seal plug on the FPSO moonpool, STP-Buoy disconnection procedure, FPSO station keeping and heading control, and vessel inspection
• Survey services, providing survey equipment and personnel for positioning and heading control of the FPSO
• Operation risk management
• Equipment management 
• Provision of offshore qualified personnel onboard the FPSO and vessels, including the tow master, engineers, supervisors, and offshore surveyors.

“It is remarkable that these complex operations were completed using only a conventional anchor handling tug supply vessel (AHTS) and tug supports, without any ROV (remotely operated vehicle) intervention, or offshore installation crane,” said Cleiver Moulin, managing director, InterMoor do Brasil. “Our engineering and survey teams carried out specific dynamic analysis in order to guarantee a successful cone seal plug deployment and connection to the FPSO moonpool. They also carefully involved all parties in a hazard identification and risk assessment meeting to ensure full safety during the operation, and mobilized a fully redundant survey system onboard the FPSO. In the end, the operation was completed without incidents or accident. I am very proud of all involved in this successful operation.”

The OSX-1 was the first FPSO to be decommissioned in Brazilian waters. The operation took place in a water depth of 127m (417ft) at Tubarão Azul field.

Image: Cone seal plug ready to be deployed/Intermoor