Decom Engineering was selected by DeepOcean to support Shell’s decommissioning programme in the UK Continental Shelf. The project was delivered over two separate three-month scopes and involved cutting a range of flexible risers and rigid pipelines, including carbon steel and super duplex, at a depth of 160 meters.

The C1-24 (unit 107) was deployed using an active heave compensated (AHC) crane and powered subsea via ROV. The tool was required to operate reliably across variable material types and pipe diameters, while also overcoming burial and seabed obstruction.

The C1-24 delivered clean, fast cuts across a complex cutting spread, achieving best-in-class performance for a range of material types and sizes. Cut times averaged just 10–25 minutes depending on the material, with excellent blade longevity across the campaign. A key challenge was the need to recover and cut both partially and fully buried pipelines embedded in silty seabed.

The saw’s robust frame and gripping system allowed it to lift, secure, and cut these pipelines without requiring extensive dredging, saving significant vessel time and ensuring safe handling throughout the project. Decom’s system outperformed alternative solutions, supporting DeepOcean in safely and efficiently executing Shell’s decommissioning scope across two extended offshore campaigns.