High-pressure jetting of blocked drains on a North Sea FPSO – three-person crew, diesel jetting unit and vacuum support restoring full topsides drainage, completing over four times the original scope ahead of schedule with zero incidents.
Sector: Offshore oil & gas – FPSO operations
Location: North Sea
Client: International FPSO operator (anonymised)
Services: High-pressure drain jetting, waste handling, topsides drainage restoration
Overview
A producing FPSO was experiencing widespread drainage issues across the topsides, increasing slip risk, hindering maintenance and threatening environmental non-compliance.
A small initial scope to clear a handful of problem drains quickly evolved as Sureclean’s crew demonstrated fast, efficient high-pressure jetting, ultimately delivering over four times the planned drain locations within the same campaign.
The Challenge
The operator needed to:
- Clear blocked drains across the topsides
- Maintain safe, dry work areas and prevent uncontrolled overflows
- Execute the work without disrupting production or platform operations
- Ensure full environmental compliance in line with permit conditions
The starting scope was modest, but there was a high risk of hidden issues elsewhere in the system.
Sureclean’s Solution
Sureclean mobilised a specialist three-person offshore crew with:
- High-pressure diesel jetting unit for efficient, targeted drain cleaning
- Tote tanks and vacuum skips for controlled collection and handling of washings and debris
Key aspects of delivery:
- Close coordination with platform operations to sequence work around live activities
- Systematic jetting of problem drains, then expansion into additional locations as access and time allowed
- Strong focus on safety, environmental protection and operational efficiency from start to finish
The crew’s productivity meant the operator approved additional drains mid-campaign, confident in the team’s pace and control.
Results
The campaign delivered:
- More than four times the original scope completed within the same mobilisation
- Full drainage function restored across the treated topsides areas
- Improved system performance and reduced future blockage risk
- Project completed ahead of schedule with no incidents and in full environmental compliance
The client praised Sureclean’s:
“Excellent communication throughout the work scope…
Very professional attitude towards safety culture on board.”
What this shows about Sureclean
This project shows how Sureclean’s small, specialist teams and owned HP jetting fleet can transform a “simple” drain problem into a fast, high-value intervention:
- Rapid mobilisation and high productivity unlock additional scope without extra downtime
- Integrated jetting and waste handling keep workfaces clean, controlled and compliant
- Strong communication with the offshore team ensures zero disruption to production
For FPSO and offshore operators, it’s a clear example of engineered industrial cleaning protecting safety, integrity and uptime.
