Singapore-based Ezra Holdings' strategic acquisition of Aker Marine Contractors (AMC) has created a formidable contender in the North Sea oil and gas decommissioning space.
Ezra, better known as EMAS, snapped up AMC to form EMAS AMC in March this year. The acquisition followed a long working relationship that bore innovative solutions such as the novel buoyancy tank assemblies method designed for Total's Frigg DP cessation project back in 2009.
DecomWorld catches up with EMAS' regional head of Europe, Svein Haug, to learn more about the company's track record, and its forward strategy for capturing a healthy share of the North Sea decommissioning market.
DecomWorld: Which major decommissioning projects have EMAS been involved with to date?
Svein Haug: On the decommissioning side, EMAS has been involved in two major projects. We were involved on Total’s Frigg project, which involved the DP2 jacket removal with Aker Marine Contractors (AMC - formerly part of Aker Marine Solutions, now owned by EMAS) in Norway.
This involved the removal of 12 000 tonne steel jacket - bringing it in one piece to the onshore site. For this we used a purpose-designed method known as the buoyancy tank assembly (BTA) to remove the structure. EMAS together with Aker Solutions designed and fabrication of the buoyancy tank assemblies developed the methods and carried out the job.
We are looking at the same technology for other future projects, but to date there has not been another project on which this method has been deployed.
Another major project we worked on was the world’s first removal of a GBS platform; the Maureen Alpha, which we carried out in 2001.
We were involved on a smaller decommissioning job earlier this year, which involved a single anchor loading system for Centrica, removing the sole buoy from the field. We lifted it from the seabed and carried out a submerged tow, using our patented ‘Pencil buoy’ method.

EMAS deployed the 'Pencil Buoy' method for Centrica's Kittiwake loading buoy removal
DecomWorld: What potential does EMAS see in the North Sea decommissioning market, and how is it currently positioned to compete?
Svein Haug: There are a huge number of platforms to be removed in the North Sea in coming years. North Sea decommissioning is a huge growth segment and it is important for us to be a part of this key market.
We are working toward a few major operators and are carrying out feed studies for the decommissioning of both gravity base structures and steel jacket structures. With regard to the gravity based structures, EMAS AMC is part of the company that initially installed them.
With the engineering competence taken from the installation of these huge structures we are sitting on a pretty unique competence basis; we have people within the organisation that were part of the pioneering period in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
With our unique engineering and competence base we are in a strong position to come up with the solutions required, as can be seen by the BTAs and the Pencil buoy.
We take an innovative approach to decommissioning projects, with a particular focus on how we can remove structures in an environmentally friendly and safe manner. We are working with oil majors and smaller independents to this effect.
Decomworld: What steps is EMAS taking to win future decommissioning contracts in this sector?
Svein Haug: In combination with our unique position, (with regard to our competence and innovation), we are getting in at the early stage with operators to do the feed studies etc.
DecomWorld: Does EMAS plan to bring any new purpose-built vessels into play to service future demand for heavy lift vessels?
Svein Haug: We are expanding our heavy lift capacity with the Constellation, a multi-purpose vessel equipped to carry out heavy lift operations and which also has a pipe lay capability. The vessel will be equipped with a 3,000 tonne heavy lift crane, which will be an important asset for decommissioning.
For any larger capacity, we will use the BTAs, for anything upward of 12,000 tonnes. When using the BTAs we will be working closely with Aker Solutions. Using BTAs is a much more cost-effective approach than bringing in an expensive heavy lift vessel.
We are also working on new construction methods enabling us to lift structures above 400 tonnes, which also can be used for decommissioning.

The Maureen Alpha decommissioning project represented the first ever removal of a GBS
DecomWorld: Having installed the majority of gravity base structures, how likely is it that EMAS will win the contract to decommission them?
Svein Haug: Our company installed 18 concrete gravity base structures in the North Sea plus four in other waters, so we are well positioned to win the decommissioning contracts for these same structures.
To respond to this article, please write to the Editor: Rikki Stancich