Aquaterra Energy and James Fisher have formed a strategic partnership to deliver integrated offshore decommissioning services, combining engineering, well access and offshore execution capabilities under a single delivery model.
The companies said the collaboration is designed to simplify well abandonment and infrastructure removal projects by reducing the number of contractor interfaces while improving coordination from project planning through offshore execution.
Under the agreement, Aquaterra Energy will provide front-end engineering, project planning and well access solutions, while James Fisher’s Energy division will deliver subsea operations and offshore execution services. The partnership will operate globally, with an initial focus on the North Sea, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, where offshore decommissioning activity is expected to accelerate in the coming years.
According to the companies, integrating engineering and execution earlier in the project lifecycle is intended to improve planning, reduce redesign during later project phases and provide operators with greater flexibility as project requirements evolve.
“By aligning our expertise with James Fisher from the outset, we can shape more efficient scopes, prevent downstream redesign and ultimately reduce offshore duration,” said Matt Marcantonio, head of engineering at Aquaterra Energy.
Growing decommissioning obligations continue to drive demand for more efficient project delivery models. The companies cited data from the North Sea Transition Authority indicating that 153 wells on the UK Continental Shelf remain past their decommissioning consent deadlines, while an estimated £44 billion in decommissioning expenditure remains across the basin. Globally, more than 2,500 offshore structures are expected to require decommissioning by 2040.
The partnership will operate on a project-by-project basis, with teams assembled according to project scope. The companies said they will also utilize cross-trained personnel where appropriate to reduce offshore personnel requirements and improve operational efficiency.
Aquaterra Energy and James Fisher said they are already engaging with operators on upcoming offshore decommissioning opportunities across multiple regions.