J M Baxi Heavy successfully executes landmark Tapti Decommissioning Project

India’s first offshore decommissioning project

The Tapti Decommissioning Project marks a milestone in India’s offshore oil and gas industry as the country’s first major decommissioning operation. 

Located approximately 150 km offshore near Hazira in the Gulf of Khambhat, the Tapti Mid and South fields span 1,471 km² with water depths of around 21 metres. 

 

 

The project involved the decommissioning and transport of five wellhead platforms and topsides - STA, STB, STC, STD and MTA from offshore to Lavgan Shipyard, Ratnagiri. Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) appointed J M Baxi Heavy Pvt. Ltd to manage marine operations, including barges, tugs, load-in and land transportation. Over 75 days, the team executed five barge trips, handling 10 modules weighing a combined 12,528 tons. Modules were carefully transported using 78 self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) axles, three power packs, four prime movers and 40 ballast pumps, ensuring precise movement from barge to yard.

One of the project’s biggest challenges was the modules’ aged condition. Fabricated over 40 years ago, their wear and tear, combined with uncertain centre-of-gravity (COG) data, necessitated extensive pre-engineering and simulations. The team recalibrated hydraulic stability envelopes, overcoming the risks of tilting, hydraulic pressure variance and potential component fatigue.

Operational planning had to contend with tidal limitations, jetty height mismatch and a congested ship repair yard. Tide windows were limited to 3-5 days per fortnight, while jetty heights and barge drafts required adaptive ballast strategies. The team conducted multiple simulations, installed high-capacity trench covers, and planned module storage with minimal disruption to ongoing ship repair operations. Real-time offshore updates further demanded flexible ballast adjustments and night-time operational readiness. Temporary high-intensity lighting and LED-fitted SPMTs enabled safe, precise work during late-night hours.

The Tapti Decommissioning Project showcased engineering ingenuity while setting new benchmarks for future offshore decommissioning operations in India. By combining considerate pre-planning, comprehensive hydraulic and structural simulations, adaptive operational strategies and real-time responsiveness, L&T and J M Baxi Heavy successfully executed a highly complex offshore-to-shore logistics operation with zero delays or incidents. This pioneering effort underscores India’s growing capability in handling technically challenging, large-scale offshore decommissioning projects, emphasised a communique.

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