CUT uses new systems for project.

Cutting Underwater Technologies (CUT UK), a specialist cutting services provider to the decommissioning and abandonment industry, developed new machines and methodologies to complete a project in the North Sea, the company reported. The project was accomplished as part of the partial removal (down to the top of the footing) of the North West Hutton Platform situated 130 km northeast of the Shetland Islands in the UK sector of the North Sea. The work was commissioned by Heerema Marine Contractors and involved CUT using its innovative diamond wire technology to make 77 separate cuts including those of the massive corner legs, 120 in OD x 2.75 in wall thickness (including 14 grout and vent lines), two launch runners legs and other jacket structural members. CUT utilised four specialised diamond wire cutting machines (DWCM) of 10, 18, 30 and 50 inches of cutting capacity along with the custom-built 60-120 inch modular DWCM. After the completion of the design and fabrication works for the modular DWCM, extensive onshore tests were carried out to assess the efficiency of this new design. Specimens for the 120 inch corner legs, including all internal piping, and for the 55 inch launch runner legs (65 inch to include steel boxes and wood) were supplied by CUT and four Cut tests under a 550T compression load were successfully completed in December 2008 and January 2009. Some equipment was then mobilised to Holland for wet testing and WROV familiarisation during February 2009 following which the full equipment spread was mobilised to the Heerema heavy lift vessel Hermod in mid-March of the year.

Technological innovations The company introduced a range of technological innovations for this project including a "castellated" form of cutting through the target to maintain maximum stability of the severed structure prior to the lifting operation. Other innovations were a remotely operated wedging system and an electronic feedback and monitoring system to supply, in real time, accurate information to the surface CUT engineer on cutting progress being made. This is done to allow overall optimisation of the cutting procedure. Cutting Underwater Technologies was formed 10 years ago by Italian parent Tecnospamec. The CUT companies provide the patented Tecnospamec diamond wire cutting systems for clients performing decommissioning, abandonment and other projects in the North Sea and around the globe. Continued success has seen CUT expand rapidly with operational bases now established in Norway, United States, Singapore and, most recently, Brazil. CUT offers a standard range of DWCM, ranging from 6 to 150 inches.

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