Aker Solutions has entered into a strategic partnership agreement to deliver maintenance and modification services on the assets and projects operated by Vår Energi on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).
The partnership also includes Honeywell and StS-ISONOR, building on an already established collaboration model. The contract has been penned for a duration of five years with the option to be extended up to 11 years.
Paal Eikeseth, Executive Vice President and Head of Aker Solutions’ Life Cycle segment, said, “We are proud to be a trusted and strategic partner for Vår Energi. At Aker Solutions, we believe that strong partnerships drive efficiency, foster continuous improvement, and enable a leaner project organisation.”
The partnership aims to create value through joint project planning, safe and efficient execution, collaboration and shared objectives.
Torger Rød, Vår Energi’s Chief Operating Officer, commented, “Aker Solutions, Honeywell and StS-ISONOR represent world-leading technical expertise and extensive experience in areas of strategic importance to our activities. With Vår Energi’s clear growth ambitions, a strong and long-term partnership is crucial.
“We are working purposefully to achieve results through close collaboration, actively utilising our partners’ core competencies. By year-end, we will increase production to around 400 thousand barrels per day, which makes us one of the world’s fastest-growing oil and gas companies.”
Vår Energi’s operations span the entire NCS with a portfolio of 200 licenses and 42 producing fields.
The European offshore well intervention market is witnessing dynamic growth, driven by geopolitical shifts and strategic investments in the region. According to industry data, the onshore segment dominates Europe’s oil production landscape, accounting for 65% of rigs. However, the offshore sector, including the Norwegian Continental Shelf and the Mediterranean Sea, is rapidly emerging as a critical area for well intervention activities, particularly due to evolving energy demands and sanctions on Russia.
Norway leads offshore expansion
Russia remains the largest exporter of oil and natural gas in Europe. However, sanctions imposed by European and North American countries have significantly impacted the Russian oil and gas industry. These sanctions, however, present growth opportunities for Norway, Europe’s second-largest natural gas producer, to strengthen its position in the offshore well intervention market.
In 2021, natural gas demand showed recovery to pre-crisis levels and was projected to rise modestly during the forecast period. Exploration activities in offshore regions like the North Sea have surged, driven by Norway’s strategic investments. The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate’s Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) 2020 offered 30 companies ownership interests in 61 production licenses, with 34 licenses located in the North Sea. This offshore region alone holds 18% of Norway’s undiscovered oil and gas potential, highlighting the growing importance of offshore well intervention activities.
Equinor and its partners have also focused on offshore development, investing NOK 3 billion (approx. US$300mn) in the Statfjord Øst field in 2020. This project involves installing gas lift pipelines, modifications on the Statfjord C platform, and drilling new offshore wells. These interventions are designed to recover an additional 23 million barrels of oil, with production expected to start by 2024.
In recent years, Norway has prioritised sustainable offshore operations. Companies are adopting advanced upstream technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with the European Union’s 2030 targets and the long-term goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. These efforts position Norway as a leader in the offshore well intervention market, especially as European countries seek reliable energy sources amidst Russian sanctions.
Conclusion
The European offshore well intervention market is poised for significant growth, with Norway leading the charge. As geopolitical factors reshape energy dynamics, offshore activities will play an essential role in ensuring reliable energy supplies while addressing environmental sustainability.
This analysis is based on the Europe Well Intervention Market report by Mordor Intelligence. For further insights into both onshore and offshore well intervention, visit, Mordor Intelligence.
As the dust settles on 2024, Mermaid Subsea Services (UK) Ltd. reports it has achieved a historic milestone by completing plug and abandonment (P&A) services across 30 wells in the UK North Sea throughout the year using the Island Valiant vessel.
This achievement marks the highest-number of vessel-based well decommissioning operations completed in a single year within the region. Looking back at its impressive catalogue throughout 2024, one of the most notable projects for the company was the 21 P&A campaign conducted on behalf of an operator across the Northern and Central North Sea. The project was believed to be the largest vessel-based North Sea decommissioning campaign in history.
Alongside this, Mermaid also completed the first stage of a major North Sea decommissioning contract for Shell UK Ltd., with subsequent phases to follow throughout 2025 and 2026.
Scott Cormack, Regional Director for Mermaid Subsea Services (UK), said, “It has been a monumental year for Mermaid, one that has cemented our position as a major player in the North Sea subsea and P&A market […] Recent research from Offshore Energies UK found that operators need to plug 200 abandoned North Sea oil and gas wells a year to stay on top of targets.”
Following last year’s success, Mermaid will continue to grow its presence in the region further in response to the company’s growing backlog with the introduction of its own dive vessel which is scheduled to enter the market later this year, as well as agreeing to charter the Valiant vessel for another season.
“With new additions, contract wins and completed projects, 2024 was an immensely successful year for Mermaid and we look forward to building on this further in 2025 when we will be bringing on our own dive vessel to the region.”
Halliburton has taken steps to expand its offshore portfolio as it heads into the New Year.
Fresh from the launch of its new advanced well intervention suite, Halliburton is set to acquire Optime Subsea, a company that delivers offshore technology that disrupts conventional methods and supplies technologies and services within subsea intervention, well completion, and well control. Its offerings simplify complex subsea operations, enhance operational efficiency and reduce risks.
This move will see the latter’s umbilical less technology move into Halliburton’s Testing and Subsea division. Subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close in early 2025 according to Optime Subsea who will, in turn, receive access to global markets and resources for further technology development.
“The agreement is a validation of our journey as a company, from a local startup to a leader in subsea technology,” said Jan-Fredrik Carlsen, CEO of Optime Subsea. “We are proud of our roots and the strong commitment of our employees, who have made this success possible. This is a fantastic opportunity to join Halliburton and contribute to further growth and development.”
Elsewhere, Halliburton Labs has also announced that five new innovative companies have been added to its collaborative ecosystem. The startups will enter an environment designed to help advance their commercialisation through support from Halliburton’s practitioners and business network. The new companies include:
• 360 Energy: With its In-Field Computing technology, this startup captures flared or stranded gas and monetises it through modular data centres in a bid to provide a valuable solution for resource owners.
• Cella: Providing end-to-end services, Cella advances subsurface mineralisation of carbon dioxide through resource assessment, proprietary injection technology, and monitoring techniques to provide valuable geologic carbon solutions.
• Espiku: Developing solutions that advance water and valuable minerals recovery from brines and industrial produced water streams, Espiuku’s systems allow for rapid deployment in diverse environments to unlock the potential of domestic resources.
• Mitico: The patent-pending granulated metal carbonate sorption technology of Mitico captures more than 95% of the CO2 emitted from post-combustion point sources.
• NuCube Energy: The company’s nuclear fission under development will produce electricity and high-temperature heat for electrical and industrial markets. It targets heat production at temperatures up to 1,100°C for industrial applications to offer cost-competitive electricity in remote areas.
“We welcome these innovative energy startups,” remarked Dale Winger, Managing Director of Halliburton Labs. “We are eager to help these participant companies use their time and capital efficiently to progress new solutions that meet industry requirements for cost, reliability, and sustainability.”
Adverse weather conditions have disrupted TotalEnergies EP Danmark’s operations, delaying production from the remaining fields at its natural gas redevelopment project in the Danish sector of the North Sea.
As a result, the company has updated its timeline for achieving full production capacity at the Tyra gas field, Denmark’s largest natural gas field.
The Tyra redevelopment project has been underway since March 2024, with the first gas export from Tyra II marking the successful initial production following a major revamp. However, challenges have emerged in the process of reactivating and optimising offshore wells, particularly in relation to the reactivation of the Tyra satellite wells. These wells are critical to achieving the anticipated production plateau, and the necessary well interventions have been delayed by adverse offshore weather.
A key operational challenge arose from issues related to two transformers supplying power to essential gas compressors, which have impeded the full commissioning of the project. Despite these setbacks, TotalEnergies has made significant progress in repairing and commissioning equipment, although the anticipated timeline for full technical capacity was initially set for mid-November 2024. Uncertainties about remaining operational conditions have led to delays.
The ramp-up phase, which is closely tied to well intervention activities, has allowed for gas production to be restored from three of the six fields. However, due to weather conditions and other operational issues, the reactivation of the Tyra satellite wells has faced further delays. Offshore weather constraints, including limited weather windows, have hindered the progress of well interventions and postponed the critical reactivation of these satellite wells.
Given the current weather forecasts, the timeline for reactivating all satellite wells to achieve plateau production has been extended by approximately three weeks. The revised timeline now places the expected achievement of plateau production in the second half of January 2025.
The Tyra field is part of the Danish Underground Consortium, with TotalEnergies EP Danmark (43.2%), BlueNord (36.8%), and Nordsøfonden (20%) as the key stakeholders.
Euan Shirlaw, CEO of BlueNord, commented, “Although it is disappointing that plateau production is now expected in the new year, we are confident that the recent above-ground challenges are well understood. Once the remaining satellite wells have been reactivated, the performance of the field will no longer be constrained by weather, as has been the case during the startup phase. We look forward to reaching plateau production in January 2025 and sharing the promising results of our HEMJ program.”
TotalEnergies points out that oil and gas supply nearly 50% of Denmark’s energy needs, and once the Tyra field reaches plateau production, it is expected to contribute around 6% of the European Union's natural gas output, marking Denmark’s return as a net gas exporter.
Additionally, in June 2024, drilling operations in the Harald East area, conducted with the Shelf Drilling Winner jack-up rig, led to the discovery of additional gas condensate resources in the Harald field, which is located in shallow waters 250 km off Denmark's west coast. These new reserves could further boost production from the region, with ongoing well intervention efforts to optimise the production from the field.
In a move expected to create the UK North Sea’s biggest independent producer, Equinor UK and Shell UK have agreed to combine their UK offshore oil and gas assets and expertise into one company.
With a 50/50 split stake between Equinor and Shell, the new joint venture will reportedly be more agile, focused, cost-competitive and strategically well positioned to maximise the value of the combined portfolio. According to Shell, the decision was made in light of the maturing nature of the basin, with production rates naturally declining. As a result, the new company will target the continued economic recovery of the resource and will invest to provide long-term sustainable future for individual oil and gas fields and platforms.
“Domestically produced oil and gas is expected to have a significant role to play in the future of the UK’s energy system,” remarked Shell plc’s Integrated Gas and Upstream Director, Zoë Yujnovich. “To achieve this in an already mature basin, we are combining forces with Equinor, a partner of many years. The new venture will help play a critical role in a balanced energy transition providing the heat for millions of UK homes, the power for industry and the secure supply of fuels people rely on.”
Equinor’s Executive Vice President for Exploration and Production International, Philippe Mathieu, added, “Equinor has been a reliable energy partner to the UK for over 40 years, providing oil and gas, developing the offshore wind industry, and advancing decarbonisation. This transaction strengthens Equinor’s near-term cash flow, and by combining Equinor’s and Shell’s long-standing expertise and competitive assets, this new entity will play a crucial role in securing the UK’s energy supply.”
In the UK, Shell currently produces around 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day with Equinor contributing an additional 38,000. With the new joint venture already expressing its desire to maintain rates, this could be a potentially game-changing development for the various well intervention service and equipment suppliers to the region.
The Enersea group has announced the launch of its third sister company called Frequensea
This new wing has developed an innovative decommisioning tool designed to extract power cables, that are no longer in use, from the ocean. These subsea cables are often buried as deep as three meters below the seabed, presenting significant technical difficulties.
The latest addition to the corporate family was announced at the Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference, where Dieter Korndorffer, Managing Consulatnt at Enersea demonstrated the patented technology of Frequensea, which utilises a vibration-based mechanism that liquefies surrounding soil, enabling the efficient removal subsea power cables. This process not only facilitates the recovery of valuable metals from the cables but also supports the transition to a circular economy by recycling materials that would otherwise remain unused.
Akastor ASA, which owns a 50% share of AKOFS Offshore, has announced that Equinor Energy AS has extended its existing contract for the vessel AKOFS Seafarer.
The three-year option period has been activated by Equinor and is expected to commence in late Q4 2025. This is after the vessel has completed its customary special periodic survey and is in direction continuation of the current contract period.
According to Akastor, the option has a total value of US$300mn and will mean that the vessel will continue to perform light well intervention services for Equinor well into 2028.
Akastor’s move to acquire a 50% interest in AKOFS Offshore was undertaken in light of the “compelling” subsea well intervention and installation sector. Learn more about this development by clicking here.
Decom Engineering, a provider of green decommissioning solutions, has proved the capabilities of its ‘neutrally-buoyant’ Chopsaw on a North Sea decommissioning project.
Offshore contractor Allseas tasked Decom Engineering with designing a chopsaw specifically for the unique challenges posed by the conductor removal scope for the Brent Charlie platform decommissioning campaign. This required 40 well conductors to be cut at various water depths and needed the Chopsaw to be positioned and powered from a ROW subsea (with several cuts below the conductor guide-frame).
The tool, therefore, had to be neutrally buoyant in seawater, as well as being easily manoeuvrable with a single ROV. The Chopsaw width was also restricted to three metres due to the complexity of the conductor layout at the seabed.
"We successfully designed, manufactured, assembled, and tested the new Chopsaw within just six months, ready for offshore deployment from Allseas' heavy lift vessel Pioneering Spirit,” remarked Decom Engineering Managing Director, Sean Conway.
"The C1-32 Chopsaw has demonstrated its effectiveness in the field, completing numerous conductor cuts with an average cut time of approximately one hour. The tool's capability to perform multiple subsea cuts before needing to return to deck has saved both operational and vessel time.
"With the buoyancy functioning as designed and tested, the ROV was able to easily navigate the Chopsaw to and from each conductor, even at depths as shallow as 20 meters below sea level."
The C1-32 Chopsaw was engineered to cut conductors up to 32" outer diameter (OD), with a blade diameter of 2,100mm. Each of the 40 Brent Charlie conductors had an OD of 30 inches, consisting of both welded and Talon conductors, as well as some flexible risers.
With its neutrally buoyant design, the Chopsaw weighed approximately 6,700 kg in air but only about 50 kg in seawater, making it easily manoeuvrable by a ROV and allowing the tool to be flown into position and manoeuvred between conductors with precision.
To facilitate safe deployment and recovery, the Chopsaw was used in conjunction with a ‘deployment frame’ which allowed the tool to be quickly deployed to the correct subsea depth and safely through the splash zone. Once at the desired depth, the ROV connected the hot stabs, opened the clamps, and removed the tool from the frame.
“We have a strong relationship with Allseas, having worked for them on a previous North Sea platform removal project,” Conway concluded. “Completion of the Brent Charlie workscope further cements our credentials as a major provider of complex subsea conductor cutting services.
"Ongoing investment in R&D has been a critical factor in securing these projects and we will continue to invest and innovate so that our technologies remain as the market leader in cutting solutions."
THREE60 Energy, a leading independent energy service company, has received a multi-million-pound contract to deliver and support end-to-end decommissioning for multiple assets in the North Sea.
The contract was awarded by a major North Sea operator and covers both installation and pipeline operator scopes and initially includes three offshore assets with the option to include a further three over the six year period.
With its fully integrated services, THREE60 will deliver and support from the initial planning and regulatory compliance to project management, post cessation of production (CoP) operations, engineering preparation and infrastructure removal.
“We are proud to take on this significant multi-platform decommissioning scope, which reflects the growing demand for our fully integrated services,” remarked Walter Thain, CEO of THREE60. “We have co-created a specific service offering in conjunction with our customer which combines our unique capabilities to responsibly manage these projects, ensuring that we meet the highest environmental standards while delivering safe, efficient and cost-effective decommissioning.
Decommissioning is a key enabler of the energy transition within the UK and a huge export opportunity as other basins globally reach late life.”
Well-Safe Solutions, an international energy transition specialist, has secured two new decommissioning contracts in the UK Continental Shelf for Spirit Energy and an additional global operator.
The workscope comprises approximately 170 days with the Well-Safe Protector jack-up and Well-Safe Defender semi-submersible vessels being used. The two contracts are worth about US$25mn but both include options for a further combined duration of up to 140 days in 2025 and 2026 which could see the total rise by an additional US$50mn.
“Securing these contracts with an array of blue-chip operators – each with their own distinct requirements – demonstrates the flexibility of the Well-Safe Solutions offering in safely and efficiently liquidating ageing well stock,” remarked Chris Hay, Chief Commercial Officer at Well-Safe Solutions.
“Welcoming back Spirit Energy for another mutually-beneficial project is testament to the close cooperation and high performance we achieved together in our last campaign. As the North Sea continues to face political and economic headwinds, it is heartening to see operators securing valuable North Sea assets amidst a backdrop of availability concerns and units departing the region."
Hay continued, “Approximately 60% of the UKCS’ topside and subsea decommissioning is set to occur between 2026 and 2032, making this a key growth industry for the UK and Scotland alike. We are proud to be collaborating with our clients as the industry moves towards a low-carbon future for the North Sea.”
Spirit Energy have selected the Well-Safe Protector having successfully utilised the vessel to decommission 15 subsea wells in the Trees, Chestnut and Appleton fields last year. The new contract will result in the decommissioning of five wells on the York platform, located in Block 47/03a of the southern North Sea, over 97 days. It is planned to commence in Q2 2025, with two optional subsea wells (projected to take approximately 50 days) to be decommissioned in direct continuation or deferred until a later date.
“With York having reached the end of its economic life in the summer this year, Spirit Energy has partnered effectively with Well-Safe Solutions to ensure swift and responsible decommissioning of the asset,” commented Spirit Energy’s Head of Wells, Nicky Riley. “This builds on the success of our previous collaborations on the Chestnut, Trees and Appleton fields. Together, we look forward to continue setting the standard for efficient, responsible decommissioning of assets at the end of their productive lives.”
Elsewhere, the Well-Safe Defender will carry out its decommissioning campaign for an unnamed client. Beginning in March 2025, at least two subsea wells will be worked on across 75 days. This contract also contains two optional subsea well which may be added in direct continuation with the firm scope, plus another three to be executed in 2026.
Well engineering, subsurface and project management specialist, Elemental Energies, has announced a joint venture (JV) agreement with drilling and well services company, Archer, delivering integrated plugging and abandonment (P&A) services to global decommissioning projects.
The long-term partnership will give way to a focused P&A well engineering team that will focus on learning and best practices for P&A design and operations across all well types.
Archer's advanced well services technology and delivery capabilities, along with Elemental Energies' technical subsurface, well engineering and project management expertise, will empower the JV to offer end-to-end well abandonment solutions for platform as well as subsea decommissioning projects. This will deliver integrated planning and execution for large-scale campaigns, supporting operators to maximise efficiency, maintain oversight, and reduce cost. The JV will have the ability to support operators from the earliest project stages, leveraging the strengths of both companies to deliver the most suitable methods and technologies for each project.
Dag Skindlo, CEO of Archer, said, “We’re delighted to deepen our collaboration with Elemental Energies. We acknowledge that some customers are looking to approach P&A differently, and the critical importance of offering a flexible approach to P&A services. This joint venture will help deliver highly efficient well planning and design, with the ability to integrate best in class barrier philosophy and design with deep knowledge of most effective methods to plug and abandon various well types. Ultimately this will help drive down cost of permanent P&A for our clients around the world.”
Mike Adams, CEO of Elemental Energies, added, "There is a close strategic and cultural alignment between our companies, built around a successful track record of working together on joint projects. For P&A to work, it needs long term and highly efficient solutions. This JV will bring that longevity to clients, through a mutual commitment between two long term partners, and a joint venture team that is entirely dedicated to driving efficiency in P&A. This JV partnership is a natural evolution of our relationship with Archer, and we are already actively supporting operators on P&A projects in the North Sea."
As global offshore decommissioning spend is set to rise, the JV aims to offer cost reduction with innovation - essential for advancing decarbonisation. While recognising that P&A needs and preferences vary by region and client, Archer and Elemental Energies are dedicated to supporting these unique requirements, whether through integrated solutions or traditional contracting approaches. This JV represents a commitment to fostering a more efficient and integrated approach to decommissioning across the industry.
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