Ekofisk Norpipe

Sometimes you see new roads or bridges in the middle of nowhere not connected to any other roads or anything at all. All over the world you'll see these 'mistakes'. Actually; they are no mistakes, but after completion new technology or facts proved that they are not needed anymore or not working. This Norpipe platform is a fine example. It was built in 1974 to boost the pressure in the oil pipeline from the Norwegian oilfield Ekofisk to Teesside. After two years it appeared that this booster stations (there are two) with her large turbine pumps were not necessary at all. The pressure and the flow in the pipeline were more than enough to do it without. So the platform was by-passed and de-manned. The Brent Spar debacle learned us that everyone disturbing the marine environment or horizon at sea (sub sea included) is responsible to restore this environment again to the original condition. And that's what Conoco Phillips Skandinavia ordered us to do here. The next two weeks the Hermod will be busy to make the platform safe for the final decommissioning next year. Not only this one, but she has a sister platform as well. Also to be removed. By the way; you see the basket in the port side crane with the man inside? This is the real 'working at height'. It was the first man transferred to the platform in order to make preparations for receiving the Hermod gangway on the platform.