EnerMech has been awarded a contract by ExxonMobil to deliver a complete flowline decommissioning package for the Hoover Diana development in the Gulf of Mexico/Gulf of America.
The milestone scope includes decommissioning the subsea flowlines, marking EnerMech’s first major decommissioning campaign in the region. The award highlights the firm’s strategic methodology, integrated approach, and offshore operational expertise.
The Hoover and Diana fields, located approximately 160 miles south of Galveston, Texas, have been a landmark offshore development since 2000. The project utilizes the once pioneering floating production deep draft caisson vessel technology and gained the world record for deepwater drilling and production depths.
Decommissioning a deepwater structure requires meticulous planning and execution. EnerMech’s early proactive collaboration with ExxonMobil ensured its comprehensive approach is optimized for safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
EnerMech CEO Charles "Chuck" Davidson
An expert team integrating multiple service lines from EnerMech’s Energy Solutions division will be deployed, including coiled tubing, pressure pumping, chemical services, filtration, separation, and pipeline gauging. The scope includes flushing, pigging, and filling subsea pipelines to safely remove hydrocarbons and prepare for decommissioning. This involves flushing of the umbilical, pipeline flushing, and seawater fill operations for the subsea flowline loop, as well as nitrogen flushing via subsea vessel, coiled tubing services, and final seawater filling for the Northern Diana flowline.
“The Hoover-Diana project marks our first large-scale decommissioning engagement in the Gulf of Mexico, building on the strong relationship we’ve developed with ExxonMobil in Guyana since 2018," said EnerMech CEO, Charles ‘Chuck’ Davison Jr. "Executing a multi-service end-of-lifecycle project of this scale requires a highly skilled and competent workforce.
“Securing this new contract following a competitive tender is a testament to our deep expertise, integrated capabilities, and the trust ExxonMobil continues to place in our team. Our early engagement has allowed us to develop a tailored methodology that maximizes efficiencies, minimizes risks, and ensures a safe, cost-effective execution.
“With many offshore assets reaching the end of their lifecycle, the decommissioning market in the Gulf of Mexico is expanding rapidly. This project underscores the value we bring to our customers and positions us for future growth in this critical sector.”
"Our approach includes nitrogen injection to mitigate gas-related risks and advanced pigging solutions to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements," added Jon Felton, EnerMech’s technical solutions director for the Western Hemisphere.
“Our ability to seamlessly coordinate multiple service line disciplines required simultaneously under one contract sets us apart. We’ve engineered a methodology that not only meets ExxonMobil’s expectations but also establishes a new benchmark for efficiency and safety in deepwater decommissioning."
