UK Chrysaor to Decommission Jupiter Fields

UK-based Chrysaor has filed decommissioning plans for the Jupiter gas fields in the North Sea, the UK government reported on its website on January 29.

The plans, pending approval, will involve the decommissioning of the Ganymede and Europa platforms, along with the Callisto and NW Bell tiebacks. The fields previously flowed gas via the Lincolnshire Offshore Gas Gathering System, which itself is being decommissioned.

The platforms and their jackets will be transported to shore using a heavy lift vessel, along with the NW Bell pipelines, for re-use or recycling. The Ganymede, Europa and Callisto inter-field pipelines will be decommissioned and left in place.

The Ganymede platform and Callisto tie-back started production in 1995, followed by the Europa platform and NW Bell tieback in 2000. Operations were ceased in 2016 after years of declining output.

Removal, dismantling and disposal work is due to take place between the first quarter of this year and the third quarter of 2023. Chrysaor operates the fields with a 20% stake, while ExxonMobil has 50% and Norway’s Equinor 30%.