Aberdeen-based subsea 3-D scanning specialists Viewport3 is entering the decom market after securing two pre-removal scanning contracts with a combined value of £100,000 (US$129,000) on Nov. 4.

Viewport3’s industry-leading accuracy and ability to understand the precise details of what lies subsea has secured it the North Sea projects with two major operators.

The contract scopes will see them providing the operators with the intelligence they need to make decisions about the removal of items from the seabed, reduce ad-hoc engineering and minimize time spent offshore.

Over the last two years, the subsea 3-D scanning specialists have grown from strength to strength, saving the subsea industry approximately £10 million (US$12.9 milion) in the process by using verifiably accurate geometric data to save on remediation and contingency during the removal process.

Decom naturally comes with many challenges, trying to determine what needs to be retrieved using out of date drawings and guesswork leads to mobilization of equipment that isn’t suitable, resulting in delays and excess expenditure with marine contractors.

“We have always believed in securing a better and more accurate way of handling the decom practice. It’s important to understand that small misconceptions surrounding the condition of underwater hardware can cost the industry millions of pounds, not least through significant delays and interruptions,” Richard Drennan, one of the co-founders and directors of Viewport3, said.

“By investing in reliable scan data, we can ensure the retrieval of subsea equipment is completed successfully. There is little room for uncertainty, and we feel passionate about providing the data needed to achieve smooth running operations. Collecting 3D geometry from  seabed hardware prior to launching decom operations is a must, understanding the precise details offers great benefit compared to going in blind,” he added.

Viewport3 recently became members of Decom North Sea, a partnership organization working to enhance knowledge transfer and facilitate collaborative activities to deliver innovative models that minimize decommissioning costs, ensuring best value for taxpayers and maximizing business potential for its member companies.