By Rob Watts London
22 November 2012 23:59 GMT
Shell intends to award the major heavy-lift removal and onshore disposal contracts for its landmark Brent Decommissioning project — together valued at hundreds of millions of dollars — by the end of the first quarter next year.
Initially the work covers the removal of the topsides of three of the four Brent platforms — Alpha, Bravo and Delta — and the steel jacket of Brent Alpha. As much as 97% of the steel is expected to be recycled.
Delta ceased production at the end of last year, while Alpha and Bravo are due to cease in 2014.