NHV Helicopters wins North Sea decommissioning contract

Helicopter operator NHV Helicopters, headquartered in Ostend, Belgium, has won the contract for de-commissioning work on the Buchan Well in the Central North Sea. The contract to support Buchan Well abandonment operations was awarded by WellSafe Guardian on behalf of its client Repsol Sinopec Resources UK (RSRUK).

Starting in mid-September 2023, NHV Helicopters will fly about four flights per week, using its Airbus Helicopters H175 aircraft. Flights will be conducted from the company’s Aberdeen base to the offshore Buchan Field. The small oilfield lies in an area known as the South Halibut Basin, about 120 miles (190km) northeast of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Jamie John, commercial director, North Sea Energy at NHV Group said: “Securing this recent contract with Well-Safe Solutions will play a pivotal role in supporting the Buchan Well Abandonment operations.

“NHV has invested a lot into the energy industry and this contract is testament to our teams drive and level of service. Our top-tier fleet, including the advanced H175 model, coupled with our experienced crew, positions us well to meet the demands of this critical phase of operations.”

Effective well decommissioning is a cornerstone of responsible well management, said Matt Jenkins, chief operating officer, Well-Safe Solutions. Well decommissioning accounts for 48% of the £1.97bn earmarked for total decommissioning spend in the North Sea in the past year, according to Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) Decommissioning Insight 2022.

As the decommissioning industry builds significant scale in the North Sea, the eyes of the world are now upon the UK continental shelf, as one of the world’s most mature offshore basins, said Jenkins. “This gives the UK a market-leading opportunity to export its knowledge and skills beyond its shores.” 

Pictured are NHV Helicopters‘ H175 aircraft. Photo credit: Steve Jones.