Case Studies / Upstream

🇳🇴 North Sea MARPOL Compliance Upgrade

Norwegian Continental Shelf, North Sea

Project Overview

A Norwegian-sector offshore platform was failing tightened OSPAR MARPOL discharge limits of <30 mg/L oil-in-water. The existing deoiling hydrocyclones could not keep up with the changing oil-to-water ratio as the field matured. Platform space and weight were severely constrained (350-tonne budget).

The Challenge

Field maturation shifted the inlet OWR and droplet size distribution outside the hydrocyclone's effective range, pushing discharge OiW above 30 mg/L. Adding any conventional secondary stage was blocked by deck space and crane lift limits.

WFS Solution

WFS engineered a compact compact-flotation-unit (CFU) plus polishing media filter package sized to the platform's residual 280-tonne weight allowance. The skid was pre-fabricated and FAT-tested onshore, then craned aboard during a planned shutdown window.

Technologies Applied

  • Compact Flotation Unit (CFU)
  • Polishing Media Filtration
  • Subsea-rated Skid Fabrication
  • Modular Topside Integration

Results Achieved

<12 mg/L
Outlet OiW Achieved
<30 mg/L ✓
OSPAR Limit
280 tonnes
Platform Weight Impact
On-time
Project Schedule

Performance Outcomes

  • Outlet OiW consistently <12 mg/L — well inside OSPAR limit
  • Net platform weight impact held to 280 tonnes
  • Zero unplanned production downtime during install
  • Delivered on the operator's original turnaround schedule

Your Project Could Be Next

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