Europe

Vår Energi ASA is set to plug and abandon a well in production licence PL229, northwest of Hammerfest, following the discovery of oil in the operated 7122/8-1S Countach well.

The well was drilled in one of the segments that form the Countach prospect and preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery in the tested segment between 3-13mn bbls of total recoverable oil equivalents. The potential of the Countach prospect, in the undrilled segments, is estimated at up to 23mn bbls of total recoverable oil equivalents.

Following the discovery, the well will now be permanently plugged and abandoned, and the licensees will evaluate drilling an appraisal well in the future.

Rune Oldervoll, EVP Exploration and Production in Vår Energi, said, “Countach reinforces the company’s position as the leading exploration company on the Norwegian shelf. This discovery is yet another in a series of successful exploration wells in the Barents Sea in recent years, including Lupa – the largest discovery on the Norwegian shelf in 2022.

“At the same time, the discovery confirms our exploration strategy and our position in the area. We will consider potential commercial development options and tie-in of the discovery to Goliat FPSO. Due to late arrival of the drilling rig on the field this winter, we have not been able to carry out the planned sidetrack before the environmental drilling restrictions commence on 1 March. We look forward to continuing to explore the area around Goliat at a later point in time.”

The well was drilled to a measured depth of 2,989 metres and oil was encountered in the Realgrunnen and Kobbe formations. With extensive data now collected for further assessment, the well will be permanently plugged and abandoned.

Completion and intervention leader, Welltec A/S, has announced the acquisition of Autentik AS, a niche technology provider which specialises in electric wireline fishing and intervention solutions.

Autentik has a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions to its clients across the North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and its expertise in downhole fishing will complement Welltec’s existing portfolio. With the acquisition, Welltec will be better positioned to serve its clients with the latest surface-controlled technology advancements and solutions. Together with Welltec’s manufacturing capabilities, the acquisition will bring an accelerated technology shift in how to conduct well access operations safely and efficiently.

Tommy Eikeland, CCO Welltec, said, “We are excited to welcome Autentik into the Welltec family. There is a mutual admiration for innovation and understanding of risk-taking which, to a certain level, is required when developing new technology. Together with their interventions expertise, this will add tremendous value and momentum to our organisation and enhance our ability to provide our clients with cutting-edge solutions.”

CEO of Autentik, Roy Kristiansen, commented, “This partnership will bring Autentik’s true passion for innovation and new solutions to transform wireline interventions together with Welltec’s global reach and market leadership in completion and intervention. This is a historic step in the life of Autentik, and a move that will benefit the clients and partners we work with.”

Sval, Storegga and Neptune have formed a partnership to apply for a CO2 storage licence in the Norwegian North Sea for the Trudvang project.

The Trudvang licence, located to the East of the Sleipner field, has the potential to store up to 225mn tonnes of CO2 and comes after the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy announced a new area in the North Sea for applications related to injection and storage of CO2.

Truls Olsen-Skåre, Senior Vice President Sustainability & HSEQ in Sval Energi, commented, “Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a solution that can significantly reduce CO2 emissions. The partners have worked jointly since December 2021 to identify, nominate, and apply for this licence. We have undertaken a substantial amount of work already, including subsurface evaluation of the storage complex, and technical and economic assessment of the CCS value chain. This work has shown that Trudvang can be matured into a commercially viable project with safe and efficient carbon storage.

“We will focus on accelerating all phases of the work programme to be able to start injecting CO2 in 2029, and we will continue our work with existing and new parties to mature the full value chain.”

The Trudvang project envisages the capture of CO2 by multiple industrial emitters in Northern Europe and the UK, the shipping of liquid CO2 from export terminals to an onshore receiving terminal in the south-west of Norway and then transport via a purpose-built pipeline to the Trudvang location for injection and permanent storage.

Nick Cooper, CEO of Storegga, remarked, “CCS is essential, as one of the few technological solutions that can prevent CO2 emitted from industrial operations from entering the atmosphere and worsening climate change. Our Trudvang announcement today builds on Norway’s pioneering progress with the world’s first industrial-scale, multi-user CCS project. We look forward to continuing our work with Sval and Neptune to ensure that the Trudvang Project will have a significant impact on carbon emissions and a positive impact on the Norwegian economy.”

Optime Subsea has signed a long-term framework agreement with Wintershall Dea for use of the company’s remote controlled subsea well completion and intervention systems.

Under the agreement, Wintershall Dea will rent three Remoted Operated Controls System (ROCS) including its universal landing string system (panpipe), and two wireless electric subsea control and intervention systems (eSCILS) from Optime Subsea. The latter will also provide technical service personnel to support Wintershall Dea’s operations.

Jan-Fredrik Carlsen, CEO of Optime Subsea, commented, “This contract manifests our position as the leading global supplier of remote-controlled well completion and intervention systems. Our solutions are tailored to simplify subsea, entailing less equipment offshore, lower weight, less logistics, lower HSE risk, lower emissions and lower costs. We look forward to supporting Wintershall Dea in achieving this.”

The ROCS is a fully battery-powered and umbilical-less system for well completion operations, eliminating the need for the costly and heavy umbilical’s which normally run from topside to seabed, as well as the need for a hydraulic unit. In total, this avoids the mobilisation of approximately 50 tonnes of topside equipment. The eSCILS is also a battery-powered and umbilical-less device, used for subsea well interventions and workover operations. eSCILS is lowered to the seabed next to the well and can connected to any type of subsea tree, requiring only a computer for a topside control system, rather than additional rig equipment, and can be mobilised and demobilised in one day. As a result, operations can be done significantly safer, faster and more cost-effective than conventional solutions.

The agreement is valid for a firm period of three years plus two additional two-year options. If both option periods are exercised, Optime Subsea estimated that the contract could generate total revenues of around NOK500mn.

Rovco has successfully completed a contract awarded by Well-Safe Solutions to support its plug and abandonment and decommissioning operations in the southern North Sea.

Rovco provided Well-Safe Solutions with field survey operations, to ensure the safe and efficient decommissioning of a platform which ceased production in 2015. Last year, Well-Safe Solutions signed an agreement with Ithaca Energy to plug and abandon six wells on the platform and work will continue to be carried out by the company this year.

The project utilised the VOS Star, on charter from Vroon, equipped as standard with Seaeye Leopard work-class ROVs, fitted with multi-beam echo sounders, the highest quality 4K stereo cameras, manipulators, recovery basket and photogrammetry technology to carry out specialist hydrographic surveys and underwater asset inspections.

As part of the project, the company supported the client with debris survey and clearance solutions in water depths of 20 to 30 metres, as well as habitat characterisation surveys to mitigate risk and eliminate uncertainty about seabed conditions prior to the client deploying a jack-up vessel at the site.

Using its innovative SubSLAM X2 technology, Rovco also performed jacket inspection operations, providing the client with highly detailed 3D models of the platform footings to precisely identify any scouring across the structure.

Powered by sister company Vaarst, SubSLAM X2 produces 3D reconstructions of underwater assets in real-time, from which users can take measurements with sub-millimetric accuracy. Mounted on an ROV, travelling dynamically at general visual inspection speed, SubSLAM’s ability to zoom in, rotate and fly means that it can provide full coverage of a structure from all angles, as well as the seabed and surrounding environment.

Simon Miller, Chief Revenue Officer at Rovco, commented, “Being awarded a second contract with Well-Safe Solutions underlines their confidence in Rovco’s proven track-record.

“Accurate data sets from subsea surveys and inspections is key to the safety and efficiency of their operations and they know they can rely on our people and our technology to provide the highest quality data in real-time.”

“We’re pleased to be able to play a continuing role in decommissioning and the energy transition in the North Sea, supporting Well-Safe Solutions in its quest to safely and cost-efficiently plug and abandon wells in the Southern North Sea.”

This is the second contract that Rovco has secured with Well-Safe Solutions, having previously performed survey work on an abandoned subsea wellhead in UK waters in 2021.

The OWI EU 2023 conference is just around the corner, coming to Abderdeen from April 25-26, and looks to be back bigger and better than ever in order to capitalise on the breadth of opportunities being presented by companies across the entire well lifecycle.

Building on the success of last year’s first face-to-face format after the pandemic, Offshore Network’s flagship conference has undergone a complete revamp to maximise its offerings to its clients in order to promote the most valuable elements OWI EU has to show.

One of the biggest changes to the conference this year is that of the technology showcase hall, where the largest expo in the event’s history will be held, doubling in size to allow the most diverse technologies and services on the market to be demonstrated. This makes way for exhibitors such as Helix, TechnipFMC and Welltec to have the opportunity to showcase their innovations to regional, major and independent European operators.

Another key highlight at OWI EU 2023 is the new ‘Consult an Operator’ feature, where organisations can hear about a current challenge Shell and BP are facing, and then have the chance to book a closed-door appointment with the operators to pitch a solution. As well as there, there are ample opportunities for networking across the 10 sessions which are incorporated into the agenda, especially as 35% of the registered delegates are major, independent or national operators. These session also include a dedicated drinks reception, courtesy of IWCF and in celebration of Offshore Network’s 10^th birthday party.

With this year’s tagline ‘Evolving the industry: Unlock the value of your well stock by utilising revolutionary production enhancement, well integrity and P&A tech in line with regulatory guidance and current market dynamics to exceed goals’ ­– OWI EU 2023 is set on aiding the necessary steps forward into implementing a more efficient and sustainable roadmap for transformation within the industry.

For more information and session details, the full brochure can be downloaded here. Any questions regarding the conference please reach out to Isobel Singh at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Well-Safe Solutions has signed a multi-year framework agreement with Apache Corporation (now a subsidiary of APA Corporation) to decommission wells in the North Sea, as part of the company’s Plug and Abandonment Club offering.

The deal will provide Apache with access to the specialist decommissioning assets Well-Safe Defender and Well-Safe Guardia to complete the P&A work on its well stock.

Chris Hay, Director of Strategy and Business Development, Well-Safe Solutions, said, “We are ready to assist Apache with its well decommissioning requirements, affording it the flexibility to book its wells into our campaigns when required.

“Our multi-well, multi-operator P&A Clubs give our clients cost certainty and leverage the cumulative experience gained by our specialist decommissioning teams on both assets across hundreds of wells to date.”

Separate from the frame agreement, Apache has secured a slot for Well-Safe Solutions to plug and abandon subsea wells in the UK Continental Shelf. This work is expected to begin in 2024 as part of a continuous campaign, enabling Well-Safe Solutions to maximise schedule flexibility and improve efficiencies for the member companies within the campaign.

The P&A Club’s focus on operational and cost efficiency aligns with the industry regulator, the North Sea Transition Authority’s, target to reduce the cost of decommissioning upstream oil and gas infrastructure in the UKCS by 35% by the end of 2022.

Europe’s largest provider of well integrity solutions, Unity, is developing a new additive manufactured lightweight gate which can be retrofitted to Christmas Tree gate valves to remediate seal integrity issues in low-pressure wells.

The gate has been designed as a solution for late life, depleted and shut-in offshore wells, where the tubing head pressure is too low to effectively seat the gate and seal the well. The patented design reduces the weight of the gate by around 60%, while retaining its intrinsic strength and would save operators around UK£250,000 per well by replacing a single surface component rather than the complete well control package.

The new technology is a result of a collaborative research and development project with Net Zero Technology Centre and Spirit Energy.

Technical Sales Director at Unity, Stuart Slater, explained, “The use of metal additive manufacturing means that we can offer attractive cost-savings and efficiencies to the industry, reducing raw materials, waste and operator investment in stock holding. The delivery of single items is fast and more energy efficient than traditional forgings, with an impressive 90% average reduction in lead times.

“But the real saving in this case is achieved by approaching the problem from a different angle, so rather than replacing the whole surface well control package we can quickly replace just a single small component, which offers huge cost and efficiency benefits.”

According to the most recent ‘Wells Insight Report’ from the UK’s North Sea Transition Authority, the current active UKCS well stock comprises of 2,629 wellbores, 1,661 of which are producing, while the number of shut-in wells rose by 65 to 781 in 2021. Shut-in well stock is now at a historical high, with 30% of all wells being shut in as significant intervention on infrastructure is cited as one of the top three limiting factors.

Unity’s technology is entering the latter stages of development as prototype testing has already been completed on a 2-1/16” gate, with a 5-1/8” gate now in manufacture to qualify the product for commercialisation.