MILLER

The project

The project is an EPRD (engineering, preparation, removal and disposal) contract for the decommissioning of the topsides and jackets of BP’s Miller platform, located in the UK section of the North Sea. 

Project impact

Miller was a pioneer project in the decommissioning of large platforms.

Further strengthening Saipem’s presence in the highly strategic North Sea area, in which the company has been operating for many years. 

An extraordinary project

The Miller platform had the highest flare in the North Sea (163 metres high), connected to one of the heaviest modules on the platform (Wellhead Module M5).

To avoid working at height, the flare was removed together with the module.

Because it was too heavy to be set down and transported on the deck of the S7000, the module, along with its flare tower, was carried to shore still hooked to the cranes (the extended position lift system is a symbol of Saipem’s pioneering approach).

It is in fact one of the first extended topside lifts in the world.

Technological challenges

This type of operation – the lifting of such a large structure (module plus flare) and carrying it to shore without part of it being immersed in water – had never been done before.

The most critical aspects were the type of lifting system and the transport conditions, together with the extremely tight tolerances between the flare and the S7000 crane.

We also had to allow for a long safe time window for the 60-hour transit to ensure the success of the operation. 

To overcome these challenges: 

• scale models of the S7000 and the module were built and tested in a test tank to better understand critical motion; 

• motion monitoring systems were developed in house and were used to predict critical motion during transit; 

• ensemble forecasts were used to obtain more sophisticated weather forecasts; 

• go/no-go decision-making processes were planned and agreed between the parties to ensure smooth offshore operations.

Assets and people

• Saipem’s UK office was the main hub for the integrated team (Saipem, BP, Petrofac) 

• The Saipem 7000, one of the most technologically advanced vessels in the Saipem fleet, has a dynamic positioning system and a 14,000 ton lifting capacity.