Under the partnership model, James Fisher, through its energy division, is delivering subsea operations and offshore execution expertise, with Aquaterra Energy providing front-end engineering and well access solutions. Together, they offer a more coordinated alternative to traditional decommissioning models, connecting early planning, engineering, well access, and offshore execution under a clearer delivery framework. This gives operators fewer handovers, stronger accountability, and greater certainty from initial scope development through to execution, while retaining the flexibility to adapt as project requirements evolve.
The collaboration will operate globally, with initial focus on the North Sea, APAC, and the Middle East—regions where a significant number of offshore wells and infrastructure are approaching permanent abandonment. In the UK Continental Shelf alone, the North Sea Transition Authority reports 153 wells past decommissioning consent deadlines, with £44 billion still to be spent on decommissioning. In Australia, government modeling estimates offshore decommissioning liabilities could reach approximately £48 billion over the next 30–50 years, and globally, more than 2,500 offshore structures are expected to require decommissioning by 2040. This growing workload is driving demand for more efficient delivery models.
Mark Stephen, Product Line Director – Decommissioning & CFE at James Fisher Energy, commented: “What operators are looking for now is delivery confidence, predictable execution, fewer interfaces and teams who already understand how to work together. By combining our subsea operations capability with Aquaterra Energy’s early engineering and well access expertise, we can remove many of the common friction points that slow projects down offshore. This model gives operators a scalable, field-proven approach that directly supports safer, more efficient execution as global decommissioning activity accelerates.”
Matt Marcantonio, Head of Engineering at Aquaterra Energy, said: “Decommissioning programs are increasingly moving away from simple, isolated scopes. The next generation of projects will require tight engineering control, early integration and the ability to adapt quickly as conditions change. By aligning with James Fisher from the outset, we can shape more efficient scopes, prevent downstream redesign and ultimately reduce offshore duration. We see this as a way to give operators the confidence to take on decommissioning programs that are becoming more technically demanding and commercially pressured, while keeping the agility needed to respond as projects evolve.”
The partnership will operate on a project-by-project basis, with team composition determined by scope, including the use of cross-trained crews to reduce the number of people offshore (POB) and lower overall exposure to risk. Each company remains independent, working within an agreed framework to ensure early collaboration and aligned delivery. The partners are already engaging with operators on upcoming decommissioning opportunities across multiple regions.
