Well-Safe Solutions, a tier-one specialist in well decommissioning, has secured a multi-year agreement with Apache North Sea Limited to decommission platform and subsea wells in the Forties Field.

The programme is scheduled to commence in 2026, with Well-Safe Solutions taking responsibility for all well-related project management, well and subsurface engineering, and offshore execution for both platform and subsea wells.

The contract is expected to sustain hundreds of jobs in Aberdeen while providing a welcome economic uplift to northeast Scotland during a period of ongoing pressure on the sector and concerns around long-term workforce retention.

Phil Milton, Chief Executive Officer at Well-Safe Solutions, said:
“This award is a defining moment for Well-Safe Solutions and a testament to the confidence Apache has in our team to deliver safe, efficient and technically robust decommissioning solutions at scale.

“This contract award is exciting news for our business and for the wider economy, sending a powerful signal to the supply chain and helping to secure critical talent and resources. Today’s announcement is undoubtably a huge moment for our business and our industry, however, it comes at a particularly difficult time for our sector when we are hopeful of retaining the talent and capability that we have in the North Sea”

Industry capacity for mobile offshore drilling units able to carry out both drilling and decommissioning work on platform and subsea wells has fallen steadily in recent years. Only five semi-submersible rigs now remain in the UK Continental Shelf. This continued decline in available assets could hinder the UK’s ability to satisfy future energy requirements and fulfil decommissioning commitments, with thousands of wells expected to require decommissioning before the decade ends.

Donald Martin, Vice President, Decommissioning, Apache, commented:

“We are pleased to partner with Well-Safe Solutions on this large-scale decommissioning programme across the Forties Field. This contract reflects our commitment to delivering safe, predictable and cost-effective decommissioning through disciplined execution and with a high-performing, integrated team.

“Building on decades of successful production from one of the North Sea’s cornerstone assets, Apache is focused on maximising late-life asset value, reducing risk, and delivering a safe, efficient and disciplined transition into decommissioning.”

The latest award further strengthens Well-Safe Solutions’ standing as a strategic leader in the UK decommissioning market. It follows successful recent campaigns involving the Well-Safe Defender and Well-Safe Protector, as well as two other significant North Sea contract wins announced earlier this summer.