Gryphon-A

sold to Aliaga Breakers

The Gryphon FPSO is back in production following a major overhaul of the vessel. Once all the associated fields are fully operational over the coming months, production will ramp up in excess of 20,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day (boepd). Production from Gryphon is expected to continue for the next decade, said in the company's press release. The Gryphon FPSO, located 175 miles north east of Aberdeen, sustained damage in a storm on 4 February 2011 when four anchor chains broke and the vessel moved off station. This caused considerable damage to the subsea architecture requiring the Gryphon FPSO to be towed and dry docked in Damen shipyard in Rotterdam for repairs and upgrades. While work commenced on removing and replacing the damaged subsea equipment, Maersk Oil was designing, procuring, installing and rebuilding simultaneously. During this period of upgrade, Maersk Oil took the opportunity to acquire an extensive 4D seismic programme over the wider Gryphon Area, gained operatorship of the Maclure field and in parallel, conducted a successful drilling campaign on the Tullich field, further consolidating Maersk Oil’s position in this core area.

Lloyd's London was expecting to take a hit of 250 million Dollar as a result of damage to the "Gryphon Alpha" in February 2011. The figure was revealed at a press conference following the unveiling of the corporation's interim results, which showed a first half loss of £697mn compared to a profit at this stage of 2010 of £628mn, mainly attributable to a horrendous first half major claims experience.

The "Gryphon Alpha" was towed by the "Tor Viking II" on May 5, 2011, aMaaspilot station. The ship will stay at the Calandcanal for a month to remove the forward thrusters etc. to prepare for drydocking and then shift to Damen Shipyard in Schiedam. It is planned that she will stay in drydock until the end of the year for a major overhaul and then another couple of months alongside at the yard.