Safety First: the essence of gas platform disassembly operations

Safety First: the core of gas platform disassembly operations

As gas extraction platforms reach the end of their operational lifespans, it is paramount to safely and efficiently remove and transport the components to a refurbishing yard. Our Project Engineer Lorenzo Ciardo shares his experience of working on a disassembly project with offshore heavy lift contractor Scaldis.

What are the main points of attention in project engineering for the disassembly of a gas extraction platform?

Lorenzo: “The foremost concern is the safety of the workers. It demands rigorous safety protocols and continuous monitoring. Equally crucial is environmental safety, ensuring that the decommissioning process does not adversely affect the surrounding ecosystem. Therefore, all phases of the process are triple-checked. Recently, Scaldis launched its new safety campaign ‘Safety FaCT”, emphasizes their commitment to guarantee a safe working environment by a continuous focus on Forethought, Craftmanship & Teamwork.”

What were your major challenges as a Project Engineer?

“In my role as a project engineer, the key was really keeping the lines of communication open and effective with the client and subcontractors. It's all about working together in order to secure the approval of the marine warranty surveyor and government authorities. I think this really worked out great.

Making sure everything is crystal clear at each stage of the process is also super important. To pull off a safe and smooth disassembly, you've got to nail the documentation, plan everything out meticulously, and include all the details in your calculations and drawings.

Finally, you've gotta carve out enough time to spot potential bottlenecks and figure out smart ways to tackle them without missing deadlines. Juggling time, that's the big one in this whole process."

What added value did you bring as a MULTI engineer in this process?

“I really focused on jumping right into the project, being super adaptable and helpful creating a team vibe that was not just about getting the job done, but also making it a good place to work. This was my first time in this kind of project, so I learned a ton from Scaldis' methodologies and from all the valuable experiences my managers, colleagues and the riggers aboard the ship shared.”