As the dust settles on 2024, Mermaid Subsea Services (UK) Ltd. reports it has achieved a historic milestone by completing plug and abandonment (P&A) services across 30 wells in the UK North Sea throughout the year using the Island Valiant vessel.

This achievement marks the highest-number of vessel-based well decommissioning operations completed in a single year within the region. Looking back at its impressive catalogue throughout 2024, one of the most notable projects for the company was the 21 P&A campaign conducted on behalf of an operator across the Northern and Central North Sea. The project was believed to be the largest vessel-based North Sea decommissioning campaign in history.

Alongside this, Mermaid also completed the first stage of a major North Sea decommissioning contract for Shell UK Ltd., with subsequent phases to follow throughout 2025 and 2026.

Scott Cormack, Regional Director for Mermaid Subsea Services (UK), said, “It has been a monumental year for Mermaid, one that has cemented our position as a major player in the North Sea subsea and P&A market […] Recent research from Offshore Energies UK found that operators need to plug 200 abandoned North Sea oil and gas wells a year to stay on top of targets.”

Following last year’s success, Mermaid will continue to grow its presence in the region further in response to the company’s growing backlog with the introduction of its own dive vessel which is scheduled to enter the market later this year, as well as agreeing to charter the Valiant vessel for another season.

“With new additions, contract wins and completed projects, 2024 was an immensely successful year for Mermaid and we look forward to building on this further in 2025 when we will be bringing on our own dive vessel to the region.”