Well-Safe Solutions, a global energy transition specialist, has appointed a new Country Manager for the Malaysian market in a bid to develop its Asia Pacific presence.
Adrin Shafil, who currents heads up the business in Kuala Lumpur, is the individual given this task and is seeking to leverage his operator, well management and drilling contractor experience in order to fulfil it.
“I’m really excited to be joining Well-Safe Solutions at this key moment in its global growth journey,” he remarked. “I’ve kept up to date with the company’s recent developments, with Well-Safe Solutions Pty continuing to grow at pace in Australia and throughout South-east Asia.
“I’m looking forward to bringing my well plug and abandonment and engineering experience to bear as we continue to service the well abandonment, personnel and project delivery requirements of clients throughout Malaysia, Australia and beyond.”
Shafil will report to Massimo Delia, General Manager – Asia-Pacific, who commented, “Adrin is an ideal fit for our current business, as well as our long-term aspirations to continue growth in the APAC region. His considerable engineering experience and client management skills will bring immediate benefit to our operations – not just in Malaysia, but throughout southeast Asia.”
Reservoir Link Energy Bhd. (RLEB), an energy related services provider, has announced that its subsidiary, Reservoir Link Sdn. Bhd. (RLSB), received a letter of award from Hibiscus Oil & Gas Malaysia Limited (HML) for the provision of well leak diagnostic and remedial services.
As per the three-year contract (which has an optional one-year extension), RLSB will supply competent personnel, all consumables, operate associated equipment to perform the sealant treatment activities and execute well integrity remediation activities related to pressure and time activated sealant services (independent equipment and without utilisation of slickline, e-line or coiled tubing unit). This will be for any of HML’s pressure and time activated sealant operations.
This announcement was closely followed by an additional agreement confirmed by a 60% owned subsidiary of RLEB, Reservoir Link Solutions Sdn Bhd. (RLS).
This centred around a memorandum of understanding signed with Ad Terra Asia Sdn. Bhd. In order to mutually collaborate around specialised studies and work in relation to geological storage of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) as well as subsurface, geology and geophysical studies in Malaysia.
Both parties have agreed to cooperate in relation to exploring potential business opportunities in the territory and to use reasonable efforts to explore and complete any contract mutually agreed upon. During the term of the MoU, the parties expressed a wise to explore the possibility of promoting, marketing, selling and distributing each other’s products and/or services within the territory for the duration of the agreement (expiring on 25 March 2025).
The Northern Lights cross-border carbon capture and storage facility at Øygarden in Norway has been declared completed and ready to receive CO2.
The official opening of the facility – a joint venture between Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies – was confirmed in a visit by the Norwegian Minister of Energy. The facility is expected to provide a vital outlet for large and hard-to-abate industrial emitters that need to decarbonise their processes.
It is part of the Norwegian full-scale CCS project Longship. This includes the capture of CO2 from industrial sources and shipping of liquid CO2 to the terminal in Øygarden before transportation – via pipeline – to the offshore storage location below the seabed in the North Sea.
“The completion of the Northern Lights facility marks an important milestone for the global development of a business model for carbon capture, transport and storage. It opens a value chain for decarbonisation of European industry and energy and shows the role we and our partners take in developing low carbon solutions in the energy transition” remarked Equinor CEO Anders Opedal.
The first phase capacity of 1.5mn tons of CO2 per year is fully booked, and the joint venture owners continue to work on plans to increase the transport and storage capacity for the future.
“This project demonstrates what can be achieved when authorities and industry are working towards the same goal and co-invest to reduce risks,” added Opedal. “Equinor has several CO2 transport and storage developments in our portfolio as operator and partner. The established Northern Lights value chain and experience from the project will be valuable in maturing and scaling up future CCS projects.”
Cutting Underwater Technologies has announced the successful completion of all required cuts for a key client as part of a large decommissioning project offshore Western Australia.
The company's proprietary 315” cutting machine, which it claims is the largest of its kind, was used to deliver the project. Four cuts of as much as 6-m diameter performed by a diamond wire cutting machine were executed with precision.
In 2024, CUT has completed 32 projects across six continents. The company's full suite of cutting solutions covers a wide range, from chain cutters and pipe/conductor/riser cutting machines to the largest machines for mid-water arches, disconnectable single-point moorings, and most recently, riser turret mooring structures.
CUT have exclusive use of a patent for castellated/step cuts, which have been recommended by the Government of Western Australia (Department of Energy) to minimise risk in decommissioning offshore platforms. The completion of a step cut mitigates against any danger of structural members such as platform legs sliding or having horizontal movement relative to the bottom part once cut. A step cut would provide structural stability, even with the top part of the platform resting on the bottom part. Cuts can be done remotely, in air, or subsea, removing the risk of having personnel in the cutting vicinity.
European Commission-endorsed body, European Technology & Innovation Platform on Geothermal (ETIP-Geothermal), has launched the new vision for geothermal 2030/50, 'Geothermal Horizons: from Cities to Regions'.
Designed in lines with the EU climate-neutral milestone by 2050, this vision aims to address the climate transition and secure Europe’s energy supply in an affordable way. Its research agenda targets the development of novel geothermal applications tailored to meet the diverse energy needs of European citizens and industries. A crucial step is the integration of these applications into the European energy security scheme, particularly in regions vulnerable to external energy dependencies.
“This ETIP Geothermal Vision looks towards the future of geothermal energy development to achieve the European Union’s climate-neutral milestone by 2050, and it highlights the great benefits of geothermal to decarbonise our economy. It is a unique solution to allow a sustainable energy transition with a paradigm shift for a circular economy. Geothermal is a key enabler for energy system integration, bringing renewable resources to the power, and heating and cooling industries in addition to energy storage and critical raw materials supply,” said Luca Xodo, ETIP Geothermal Chair.
Imrandd has delivered advanced inspection data analytics and integrity service for a major upstream operator in Australia, expanding its global footprint
The work determined the future condition of a caisson on an offshore asset, reliably confirming its integrity until cessation of the production facility. The project holds marked significance in saving operational costs as it eliminated the need for a very expensive caisson replacement project.
For the Australian E&P business, Imrandd’s team of data scientists and engineers used their propriety technologies to collate and condition data sets from two existing ultrasonic corrosion mapping inspections conducted several years apart. Rather than using the conventional industry approach where uniform corrosion rates are assumed, the company utilised advanced corrosion growth models that account for changes in both corrosion extent and depth, with statistical analysis of the thickness variations between inspections providing the basis for more representative future condition estimates.
Imrandd CEO Innes Auchterlonie said, “We are thrilled with the results of our first project in Australia, which demonstrates our ability to deliver high value asset integrity analysis and recommendations that allow our clients to make informed decisions that count. Our blend of advanced technologies and experienced specialists deliver actionable insights, arming our customers with the right information to reduce operational costs, enhance integrity and extend the life of assets.
“By highlighting issues before they become critical, operator’s integrity management strategies can evolve from reactive to proactive. As the energy transition ramps up, this approach is not just applicable to oil and gas assets but any sector with safety critical equipment and infrastructure.”
The Greater Kittiwake Area joint venture has appointed EnQuest to continue as GKA operator for the full decommissioning scope, with Shell transferring its decommissioning management role to EnQuest.
Shell had retained operator responsibility for decommissioning the Kittiwake platform and the Mallard field, a subsea tie-back to the Kittiwake platform, when it divested the GKA fields.
EnQuest is delivering on its strategic objective to be the preferred decommissioning operator in the North Sea. The company has demonstrated exceptional decommissioning operator performance through execution of complex decommissioning projects, including the removal of the EnQuest Producer and Northern Producer facilities and the ongoing and extensive well plug and abandonment (P&A) scopes at the Thistle and Heather fields at 40% below benchmark costs. It is on track to complete the P&A of 77 wells, which represents 60% of the EnQuest operated suspended and shut-in wells, within 5 years of cessation of production.
John Allan, EnQuest Decommissioning Director, said, “This is a great vote of confidence in EnQuest by our GKA partners Shell and Dana. It reflects our strong track record of safe, efficient and successful execution of complex decommissioning scopes which is an important part of our company growth strategy.“
Halliburton has launched the Clear portfolio of electromechanical well intervention technologies and services
This portfolio addresses challenges related to high-angle deployment and includes surface readout telemetry for communication and precise control to deliver differentiated performance. It includes the ClearTrac wireline tractor and ClearCut non-dangerous goods electromechanical pipe cutters. ClearShift high-expansion shifters will also soon be introduced to open and close downhole valves that include barrier isolation devices.
The ClearTrac wireline tractor is an advanced wireline conveyance technology for highly deviated or horizontal wells that require cased-hole logging diagnostics, perforating, and powered mechanical intervention services. It uses an innovative electromechanical drive and real-time telemetry for communication and precise control to deliver unmatched performance compared to pipe-conveyed solutions. ClearTrac wireline tractor achieves speeds from 5 to 125 ft per minute and carries payloads up to 1,000 lbs. with a single-drive section. It provides an economical conveyance solution that acquires data in up-and-down passes. This increases efficiency and reduces the potential for HSE incidents.
The ClearCut service portfolio offers a family of pipe severing tools for a machine shop quality cut without dangerous goods from 2⅜ to 9⅝ in. ClearCut can be deployed on eline or RELAY Digital Slickline and navigate through small restrictions. It cuts outer tubing encapsulated cables in intelligent completions.
With the elimination of explosives and chemicals, ClearCut service provides a safer alternative for complex wireline interventions.
“Our Clear suite of services delivers integrated formation evaluation and intervention solutions to improve production,” said Chris Tevis, Vice President of Wireline and Perforating. “Today's launch of our power mechanical services will enable our customers to intervene in their completions in a more reliable, precise and powerful way.”
Offshore engineering solutions provider Aquaterra Energy has launched well re-entry and re-abandonment services along with its new patent-pending recoverable abandonment frame (RAF)
The combined solution will address challenges in locating, re-entering and re-abandoning legacy wells that penetrate, or pass through, offshore oil and gas reservoirs or saline aquifers that have been earmarked to be repurposed for carbon dioxide (CO2) or hydrogen storage.
The significant economic and technical challenges of re-abandoning problematic legacy wells that pose a leak risk beneath the seabed could derail many carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen storage projects, that intend to use previously penetrated oil and gas or saline aquifer formations. Technical challenges such as traditional relief well drilling could be infeasible in shallow intersects or where azimuth and depth are unknown.
Excavation methods require enormous amounts of material to be removed and may also fail to isolate re-abandonment loading from the compromised legacy well, meaning both methods may fall short in addressing technical, environmental, safety, and regulatory issues effectively.
Aquaterra Energy’s solution overcomes these challenges by employing advanced seabed and subsurface surveying technologies, well imaging, marking, and tagging to precisely locate wells. This allows the RAF to adjust to an exact well position and install conduits below the seabed to re-engage the legacy well and then back to the surface to allow for successful re-abandonment via a vertical well re-entry tieback method. Crucially the RAF also protects the legacy well components from environmental, lateral and axial loading generated by wave action on the tieback conduits and the re-abandonment operation itself.
George Morrison, CEO at Aquaterra Energy, said, “The introduction of the RAF and our re-entry services illustrate our strategy of pivoting decades of offshore expertise to address the wider challenges of the energy transition. Our team is committed to innovating and taking on the tough issues, ensuring that carbon and hydrogen storage can be effectively delivered as part of our broader commitment to driving the energy transition forward.”
The technology is intended for repeated use across multiple wells or locations with flexibility built in for differing seabed conditions. Its modular design allows for shipping worldwide or road transport for quayside assembly. This could enable the effective abandonment or re-abandonment of wells that may not have been previously possible, while also significantly lowering costs, saving operators £18-20 million per abandoned well - an estimated 80% reduction in comparison to other methods currently deployed. The approach could also lead to major reductions in project timelines, estimated to be up to 50% quicker per well.
"The RAF and our associated suite of services for legacy well re-entry represents a significant leap forward in abandonment technology," said Ben Cannell, Innovation Director at Aquaterra Energy. "Well re-abandonment for CCS is a new challenge, and our solution has been developed to meet it head-on. By reducing project risk, costs and operational time, we're not only making well abandonment more efficient, but also enabling the viability of carbon or hydrogen storage, as these projects would generally be far more costly or even impossible to deliver."
Aquaterra Energy is currently in discussions with major oil and gas operators and specialist CCS operators in several global regions, including the North Sea and APAC, to deploy their legacy well re-entry services and RAF technology.
The UKCS 2024 Wells Insights Report from the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) stated there is a huge opportunity to access resources in a timelier, clean and cost-effective way to support the UK’s supply chain.
The report revealed that well intervention is currently able to provide hydrocarbon production at a cost of less than £12/boe, making it a very attractive option in line with today’s oil and gas prices. The report outlines the importance of operators striving to increase their well intervention activity in order to extend the production lifespan of their wells, and to provide a stable flow of work for the UK’s supply chain.
Carlo Procaccini, NSTA Chief Technical Officer, said, “Well intervention work can and does produce impressive results, boosting efficiency and providing cleaner and cost-effective production. We expect that bringing together operators with the supply chain will highlight significant opportunities for everyone.”
In 2023, interventions increased in the Northern North Sea to 102 wells, compared to the 82 in 2022. There has also been an increase West of Shetland where nine wells benefitted from intervention work last year, up from two in 2022. However, Central North Sea, Southern North Sea and the east Irish Sea have experienced a decrease in activity.
To encourage more interventions, the NTSA has already held one-to-one sessions with leading North Sea operators and completed a detailed study of 795 shut-in wells to understand the percentage figure that could be brought back online.
Separately, the report outlined that a total active well stock on the UKCS currently sits at 2,546, down from 2,560 in 2022. The past year has also seen an increase in the number of shut-in wells to an all-time high of 31% of the active well stock (795 wells). While a proportion of these wells could be brought back online, without the necessary investment in infrastructure or downhole interventions, it is more likely these wells will be permanently decommissioned.
In terms of spending, the report highlighted the total exploration and appraisal well spend was UK£571mn, compared to UK£275mn in 2022.
McDermott has announced the safe and successful decommissioning of the Campbell platform and associated offshore infrastructure at the Varanus Island hub in Western Australia
Under a contract awarded to McDermott in January by Santos, the company provided engineering, procurement, removal, and transportation of the platform topsides, substructure, and associated items to an onshore facility for dismantling and disposal.
"The successful removal of the Campbell platform topsides and substructures leveraged our expertise in circular practices and subsea project execution across the energy value chain," said Mahesh Swaminathan, McDermott's Senior Vice President, Subsea and Floating Facilities, McDermott. "This demonstrates our commitment to support clients in tackling complex challenges with creative problem-solving solutions that enable offshore decommissioning efforts and circularity across Australia's energy sector."
The deployment of a custom-built lifting cradle was central to the project's success. Designed and constructed at McDermott's Batam fabrication yard, with engineering support from teams around the world, the lifting cradle was specifically engineered to address the unique complexities of the platform's upper substructure.
Archer Well Services has secured a global exclusive license agreement with Raptor Data Limited, enhancing its well integrity and plugging & abandonment (P&A) offerings with innovative technology.
This partnership integrates Raptor's advanced wireless acoustic telemetry technologies into Archer Well Services’ well integrity portfolio, significantly improving monitoring capabilities.
Raptor is a UK-headquartered company dedicated to research, design, engineering and manufacture of downhole tools for plug and abandonment. The company's proprietary wireless acoustic telemetry technology is a leader in the market for plug and barrier validation and verification (V&V) and associated workflows for confirming wellbore barrier quality and integrity.
Nicholas Pantin, Executive Vice President of Archer Well Services, said, “Raptor has developed a state-of-the-art downhole acoustic monitoring tool that, with its wireless data broadcasting capabilities, will expand Archer Well Services solutions in the temporary and permanent plug and barriers V&V market, including data transmission of downhole pressure and temperature broadcasted via a wireless acoustic telemetry from below the barrier. This demonstrates Archer’s major commitment to continue improving and managing the placement of reliable well barriers.”
Paul McClure, CEO of Raptor Data Limited UK, said, “I am delighted to announce our partnership with Archer Well Services. Together we complete the strongest offering for well decommissioning in the global market and this positions both companies as leaders of well P&A with a unique set of solutions and workflows for plug and barrier V&V. A combined Archer Well Services – Raptor Data in this space provides unparalleled resources and a technically differentiated global platform to build a scalable high impact business at the cutting edge of technology.”
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