More than 400 personnel will ensure the integrity of offshore platforms to be decommissioned

A new amendment to the contract with Petrobras’ Sergipe and Alagoas Exploration and Production Operations Unit (UO-SEAL), signed in May, has increased the workforce carrying out activities on offshore platforms and other facilities currently in the decommissioning phase.

Now, over 400 professionals are involved in operating and maintaining these hibernating assets awaiting decommissioning in the Camorim, Caioba, Robalo, Dourado, and Guaricema fields, located in shallow waters of the Sergipe basin.

This additional team mobilization aims to ensure not only asset integrity but also operational safety, in preparation for the arrival of the rig that will carry out well abandonment and plugging. Subsequently, work will proceed on the subsea systems, paving the way for the dismantling of the platforms. “Our job is to maintain the integrity of the facilities, working on the restoration of gratings and floors, handrails, stairways, access points, electrical systems, removal of inactive equipment, and maintenance of equipment in general, including cranes and pumps,” explains Project Manager Hudson Azevedo.

Heavyweight Team

This is the largest workforce ever deployed by Forship Group under a service contract for offshore assets — with the majority of the labor force coming from the local region.

“Our original team consisted of two offshore crews of 110 people, plus 24 in administrative roles and 45 subcontractors handling offshore hospitality and catering services,” says the manager. Part of the team is stationed on the PMC 9, while others work on the platforms and return to hotels or their homes at the end of the day.

“We now have two additional crews of 37 people each, working on a 14×14 day rotation. They will be stationed on a Service Operation Vessel (SOV), which has full hospitality infrastructure, including cabins, a dining hall, and more,” he adds.

In other words, while we are not directly performing the decommissioning work, we are responsible for ensuring the integrity of these assets — enabling a safer and more sustainable decommissioning process.