The Gulf of Mexico’s decommissioning specialisit Promethean Energy has successfully completed a multi-client campaign in the South Timbalier lease area for the plugging and abandonment of an orphaned well on a storm-damaged platform.
The high-risk project (thanks to extensive hurricane-related structural damage) was completed sans incidents and under budget, reinforcing Promethean’s com8ittment to retiring ageing offshore infrastructure while supporting the broader goals of the BSSE’s orphaned well programme.
The project entailed reinstating well control barrier on an orphan well and completing abandonment activities. Structural instabilities, deteriorated well barrier, hydrocarbon leaks and subsurface complexities posed significant risks to the operation, yet through phased execution, proactive risk mitigation and an experienced team, the project was completed incident-free.
The initial inspection of the well was conducted in May 2025, revealing extensive damage including a missing boat landing, the heliport having been torn away, the wellhead access deck was no longer intact, and the main deck support column was detached from the stabbing guide.
The well was also venting gas from the production casing downstream of the gate valve. Drone surveys and high-res imagery uncovered severe structural compromise at a jacket leg weldment, and the desk leg had been forcibly displaced into the jacket leg, exceeding material deformation limits. The pile-to-jacket connection on the leg has also completely failed. The data and stability assessments indicated a high-risk of structural collapse.
Despite the high risks, the operator successfully executed the decommissioning project using a combination of advanced inspection tools, methodical engineering reviews and meticulous planning. The site has been secured without environmental harm.
