This week, Decom North Sea (DNS) has announced a partnership with Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) and subsea engineering and training firm, Jee Ltd, which will investigate efficient solutions for the recovery of concrete subsea mattresses and re-use, thereby contributing to the circular economy.

The project involves engaging with operators and suppliers across the oil and gas industry, with both DNS and Jee’s expert engineers conducting an economic and environmental assessment of the condition of the mattresses, and identifying the best techniques for their recovery.

Nigel Jenkins, CEO of DNS looks forward to this project getting underway: “This project was implemented in direct response to our operator member requests. What to do with mattresses as part of an efficient decommissioning solution is an often discussed “thorny” issue. Leaving them in situ is not ordinarily an option, although we will revisit this. Mattresses were not specifically designed to be removed. Unfortunately, they can degrade underwater over time, leading to a complicated and costly removal process during decommissioning.”

Tags: Decom North Sea