Joining forces with Well-Safe Solutions to deliver UK’s first Saturation Diving Module for decommissioning activity

Our Renfrew based business unit, Malin Newbuild has secured the contract with Well-Safe Solutions to build and outfit a 200 tonne Lloyds Classed steel-framed, single-lift Saturation Diving Module which will be fitted to the Well-Safe Guardian.

As the first dedicated well decommissioning rig in the UK to be fitted with a Saturation Diving System, the Well-Safe Guardian will be uniquely placed to decommission first generation subsea infrastructure installed by divers. This infrastructure is often better-suited to being safely decommissioned by divers than by remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) due to its age and fragility.

The project represents the latest in a line of collaborative scopes between the two organisations, with a specialist team of Malin Newbuild staff moving to Burntisland to form an integral part of Well-Safe Solutions’ wider project team.

The design for the modular unit was undertaken by Malin Abram, a sister arm of the organisation who specialise in consultancy, design and heavy lift transportation.

After acquiring the Well-Safe Guardian in 2019, Well-Safe Solutions embarked on an extensive overhaul, modernisation and upgrade of the semi-submersible rig in the Port of Nigg, including a complete fabric maintenance program executed to ensure total readiness for the next ten years of offshore well decommissioning operations. The modular, containerised spread, expected to be complete in May of this year, forms a vital part of this extensive programme.

 

Malin Newbuild, fabrication experts and part of the Malin group, combine heritage and expertise with creativity and a drive to develop best practice within the industry. This latest scope showcases their breadth of expertise from the maintenance of the module general arrangements, weight register and 3D modelling of the modular unit, to the practicalities of electrics, cladding, insulation, partitions and fire systems – plus everything in-between.

Gary Mitchelson, Business Unit Lead, Malin Newbuild: “We have been working with Well-Safe for many years now, on a range of services focused on their Well-Safe Guardian semi-submersible decommissioning rig. This latest scope represents an opportunity to showcase our collaborative efforts as we work to fabricate and deliver the approved design. We are delighted to be associated with such a progressive Tier 1 contractor.”

Phil Milton, CEO, Well-Safe Solutions: “At Well-Safe Solutions, we believe that safe, smart and efficient well decommissioning operations benefit greatly from effective collaboration.

“We’re very pleased to be continuing our working relationship with Malin Group, who are providing a turnkey solution which will add immediate value to our state of the art well decommissioning rig.”

The Module will be fabricated into easily road transportable sections and assembled in Burntisland, before testing and installation on the Well-Safe Guardian.