Marine Masters has completed its offshore scope for the decommissioning of the South Angsi Alpha (SAA) platform, operated by Hibiscus Oil & Gas Malaysia Limited. The platform’s substructure is now resting on the seabed as part of Malaysia’s largest rig-to-reef project.
The SAA platform, located 130 km off the Terengganu coast, was a 4000-mt weighing four-legged mobile offshore application barge (MOAB) that served as a full production facility for over fifteen years.
Following cessation of production, the topside and substructure were prepared for safe removal and partial reefing in line with Malaysian regulatory approvals. This marks the largest platform ever to be decommissioned and repurposed within Malaysian waters.
Reversed installation method
Marine Masters was responsible for the removal of the MOAB by making use of the reversed installation method and the removal of various associated components for safe onshore disposal. The jacket was cut at -55 metres LAT and vertically separated, allowing the sections to be laid on the seabed as artificial reef structures. Additional tasks included the recovery of all thirteen conductors, the retrieval of four MOAB support legs, and the cutting and transport of the wellhead access platform.
For this reason, multiple cutting edge techniques have been used and special procedures developed to perform remotely operated underwater cutting (assisted by ROVs), high speed PVL hand cutting (by divers), set up efficient personnel transfer between the work barge and the MOAB up to custom designed lifting systems to avoid the use of expensive heavy-lift vessels.
Demobilisation
The MOAB topside has now been successfully skidded to shore at Labuan Shipyard, and all loose items have been offloaded. The ENA WB400 accommodation work barge was demobilised at the same time, while the two transport barges left for their respective demobilisation ports.
The South Angsi Alpha campaign stands as the largest decommissioning and reefing operation of its kind in Malaysian waters. A blueprint for responsible offshore retirement. The SAA decommissioning is part of Hibiscus Petroleum’s broader sustainability vision. The rig-to-reef initiative aligns with efforts to preserve biodiversity, enhance marine ecosystems, and promote sustainable fisheries and ecotourism in the region.
Marine Masters
Marine Masters offers flexible and creative solutions in the area of salvage, transport and installation, and decommissioning. The company has offices in Schiedam, the Netherlands, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Picture: From rig-to-reef (photo by Marine Masters).
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