Well decommissioning specialist, Well-Safe Solutions, has signed an agreement with Spirit Energy to add a well from the Appleton field to the existing scope of the Well-Safe Defender rig.
This project will add approximately one month of work to the Well-Safe Defender, which mobilised in March 2023 to plug and abandon 14 wells on the UK continental shelf for Spirit Energy.
Chris Hay, Director of Strategy and Commercial at Well-Safe Solutions, said, “From the earliest days of Well-Safe Solutions over six years ago, we have fostered collaborative working throughout the industry to realise safe, smart and efficient well decommissioning operations.
“Spirit Energy’s decision to grant Well-Safe Solutions this contract extension is an endorsement of the excellent performance of the Well-Safe Defender and its crew. We are proud to continue our relationship with Spirit Energy and look forward to continuing our world-class decommissioning operations later this year.”
Head of Wells for Spirit Energy, Nicky Riley, commented, “Well-Safe’s continued strong performance has allowed us to collaborate further with the team - accelerating the decommissioning of the Appleton well, aligning us further with our strategic pillar of meeting and de-risking our decommissioning operations.”
Subterra Renewables, one of the leading geothermal utility providers in North America, has announced its expansion into Western Canada and the US following its affiliate companies’ recent acquisition of Earth Drilling Co. Ltd.
One of the west coast’s leading drilling suppliers, the transaction includes the acquisition of Nevada-based Harris Exploration, a high-profile source of drilling and installation services in Nevada, California and Arizona. Earth Drilling and Harris are now part of Subterra’s group of companies that provide coast-to-coast access to geothermal drilling for geo-exchange system installations.
Matthew Tokarik, President of Subterra Renewables, said, “We are thrilled to officially welcome our valued collegaues from Earth Drilling and Harris Explorations to our growing network of experienced talent as we scale up our operations and ramp-up assets to meet the rapidly growing demand for community developments powered by renewable energy.
“Aligning ourselves with seasoned leaders that bring a combined 115 years of geo-drilling and exploration experience across North America provides is with immediate access to best-in-class services as we build out our coast-to-coast business. An opportune time as electrification and renewables take their place in a net-zero world.”
John Paul Wegleitner, CEO of Earth Drilling, commented, “We are excited and proud to be combining our visionary teams and resources as we diversify our geo-drilling operational opportunities to support a rapidly growing renewables industry under the Subterra group of companies.”
Subterra Renewables’ Chief Revenue Officer, Kareem Mirza, concluded, “This is a strategic move to ensure our renewable energy sector’s supply chain is adequately equipped with nation-wide access to expeditious and precision-tested talent and services. We are establishing ourselves as a vertically integrated geothermal utility provider whose reach spans across North America – best suited to meet the fast-growing renewable energy movement as district communities transition to electrification, powered by geothermal exchange systems.”
Unity, Europe’s largest provider of well integrity solutions, has launched a new Wellhead Integrity Verification Programme for operators and integrated service providers who are beginning to plan their well abandonment operations.
The programme contains a package of technical support, products and innovative technologies to deliver an inspection, maintenance, repair and assurance service to verify that the wellhead and Xmas Tree equipment is in good condition and fully prepared for operations.
The integrity verification provides a complete check of the Xmas Tree, wellhead and near-surface well equipment and delivers value by reducing risk, cost, downtime and man hours while improving safety and efficiency. It aligns with the industry’s preparatory ‘Phase 0’ stage of plug and abandonment and is a critical stage intended to prevent the significant costs associated with unplanned downtime due to equipment failure after rig-based operations have commenced.
Unity’s Technical Sales Director, Stuart Slater, commented, “Working closely with operators over the life of their wells and through the decommissioning process, we have seen an escalating need for good integrity planning before embarking on P&A operations. Already attracting a high cost burden, operators are looking to mitigate additional risk, expense and downtime caused by unexpected surface equipment failures.
“Awareness among our clients of the need to include a full wellhead integrity review in their pre-abandonment planning is increasing and we are ideally placed to work in partnership with the wider industry to deliver this specialist service.”
Federal economic development agency, Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan), announced last week that it would provide CAD$3.6mn in funding to Kitselas Geothermal harness geothermal energy in British Columbia for commercial use.
Kitselas Geothermal aims to decarbonise local industry to provide social, environmental and economic benefits to the traditional territory of Kitselas First Nation. In the first phase of its geothermal project, the ‘Fuel of Recognition’ at the M’Deek Reservoir, it is designed to replace 270,000 gigajoules per year of natural gas, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 13,000 tonnes per year.
With the funding from PacifiCan’s Jobs and Growth Fund, Kitselas Geothermal will drill production wells to harness geothermal energy, with the project expecting to generate 170 jobs for Indigenous workers and furthering the economic benefits for the region. This funding will help Indigenous communities across British Columbia seize new opportunities that power a net-zero future.
The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for PacifiCan, said, “This announcement on World Geothermal Energy Day reflects the Government of Canada’s commitment to building a net-zero future. By harnessing the power of geothermal energy in Northern B.C., Kitselas Geothermal brings us one step closer to that future. PacifiCan will continue working with Indigenous communities in B.C. to create lasting economic development that advances reconciliation.”
Alison Thompson, Director of Kitselas Geothermal, added, “Development of the ‘Fuel for Reconciliation’ geothermal energy project is a significant step towards Kitselas First Nation’s economic independence. The project also contributes to B.C.’s and Canada’s transition towards clean energy by demonstrating technology, training highly qualified professionals, and providing a proving ground for regulatory reform that will benefit both future project phases and other geothermal projects elsewhere in the country.”
Plexus, an oil and gas engineering services business which is focused on establishing its patented leak-proof POS-GRIP wellhead and associated equipment, has been awarded a contract for Exact and Centric equipment for a North Sea plug and abandonment (P&A) project.
The company is securing a reputation for its safety, time and cost saving capabilities and is an exclusive licensee to SLB for its range of EXACT Adjustable Wellhead and CENTRIC Mudline systems. The new contact for a leading North Sea operation has been secured through SLB, with the work taking place in Q4 2023.
It will utilise EXACT and CENTRIC equipment and will generate equipment rental revenues in the region of UK£100,000 for Plexus. The collaborative project has been described as a ‘milestone’ by the company, building on the ongoing relationship between the two company. The company also hopes it will firm its reputation in the field of adjustable wellhead and mudline technology.
“Our continued growth into the expanding P&A market is highly encouraging particularly as this project utilises the EXACT and CENTRIC technology specifically designed to provide the safest and quickest tieback and drilling solutions for not only these types of P&A wells, but also exploration and appraisal wells,” commented Plexus' CEO Ben Van Bilderbeek.
"The contract is also an excellent example of the continued collaboration between SLB and Plexus where we believe that SLB recognises Plexus capabilities in Adjustable Wellhead and Mudline projects. We are confident that further opportunities for similar work will arise in the future."
Petroac, a leading energy services company, has celebrated the awarding of a significant deal with Saipem to support the decommissioning of a platform offshore the United Kingdom.
Under the terms of the multi-million-pound contract, the companies will work as an integrated team to remove the 20,000 tonne topside using the Saipem 7000, a large semi-submersible heavy lifting vessel.
Nick Shorten, COO of Petrofac’s Asset Solutions business, remarked, “As our sector pursues cleaner sources of energy, decommissioning is a key enabler for the transition. Supporting Saipem and their customer, we look forward to leveraging our knowledge of North Sea operations and service provision, and 20 years of decommissioning experience to deliver a safe and predictable programme that can serve as a case study for the North Sea’s transition.”
Petrofac will execute the three-year project over two phases. The first will include preparations onboard the platform, the second will be on the Sapiem 7000 for the removal campaign. The scope of Petrofac’s contract includes the module separation, lift point inspection, lift point installation, riser and caisson severing.
Woodside Energy, an Australian petroleum exploration and production company, has safely and successfully lifted the 83 m-long Nganhurra Riser Turret Mooring (RTM) onto a barge off the North West Cape in Western Australia.
Following the successful lift, the RTM is now transitioning to the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) near Perth. Upon arrival, it will be cleaned and deconstructed for recycling and reuse – more than 95% of the RTM is expected to be eligible for this.
In a world-first, the heavy lift vessel Heerema Aegir, with three supporting tugs, lifted the 2,500 tonne RTM onto a 120 m barge where it was secured ahead of its journey to the AMC. Woodside has presented the removal as a demonstration of its abilities to manage activities in the sensitive marine environments where it operates.
The Nganhurra RTM brought subsea production lines from the Enfield oil field to a floating production storage and offloading facility. Enfield ceased production in November 2018 and the RTM is being removed as part of decommissioning activities at the field, which also includes the permanent plugging and abandonment of 18 former production wells.
The decommissioning concept for the Nganhurra RTM was matured over more than two years of careful planning and detailed engineering, undertaken in conjunction with a range of specialist contractors.
In-field preparatory activities included remote operated vehicle inspections, removal of redundant equipment and installation of a purpose-built lifting point.
Following an assessment of the forecast weather and sea-state, the remaining mooring lines were cut, and the RTM was towed to a sheltered location to ensure the lifting operation could be executed safely. After the RTM is unloaded at AMC, it will be cleaned of marine growth and deconstructed for recycling and reuse opportunities, supporting local employment and contracting opportunities.
Well-Safe Solutions has appointed Alexa Duncan as the company’s first Energy Transition Manager as it looks to add carbon capture and storage (CCUS) and geothermal project capabilities to its offering.
Duncan has more than a decade and a half of experience under her belt in project management and well engineering for international operators, and will play a pivotal role in the delivery of these energy transition business streams.
Duncan said, “Well-Safe Solutions is at the forefront of the well plug and abandonment industry and working closely with clients to reduce their carbon footprint. With the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) estimating CO2 storage capacity of 78 billion tonnes on the UK continental shelf alone, there is a clear opportunity for Well-Safe Solutions to apply its considerable expertise when assisting our clients on the journey to net zero carbon emission.
“In addition, extensive growth is also predicted within the geothermal market. I’m passionate about the energy transition and very much looking forward to collaborating with our highly experienced well engineering and subsurface teams on upcoming projects internationally.”
James Richards, Well Abandonment Director at Well-Safe Solutions, added, “Recruiting a professional of Alexa’s calibre to our team is a clear endorsement of our ambition n in this sector. Our own market research and client feedback indicates an opportunity for us to apply the lessons and collaborative working practices we deliver in well plug and abandonment to these fields.”
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has launched a report produced alongside the Macquarie University’s Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Innovation and Transformation calling for a major shakeup in government policy and regulation for the dismantling, processing, recycling and disposal of offshore oil and gas infrastructure.
The report focuses on the decommissioning processes of offshore infrastructure and the necessary next steps once the structure are removed.
MUA’s Assistant National Secretary, Adrian Evans, said, “Australian maritime workers built and maintained our offshore oil and gas industry throughout the latter decades of the 20th Century, and with our eyes set firmly on the need to decarbonise our economy and diversify our renewable energy supplies the MUA is advocating for a sustainable and clean withdrawal from offshore oil and gas that includes the comprehensive removal and recycling of the massive volume of disused offshore equipment.”
The MUA and the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Innovation and Transformation have examined Australia’s international and legal obligations and domestic laws relating to the decommissioning and disposal of the offshore infrastructures and have identified gaps in the legal framework, analysed best practice in mature jurisdictions and provided a series of recommendations for the development of the Australian government’s policy.
Mich-Elle Myers, MUA Assistant National Secretary, commented, “Offshore energy projects have provided generations of members with rewarding and fulfilling work building and maintaining the infrastructure that powers our economy. That’s not going to change with the shift to offshore renewable projects, and as older oil and gas projects wind down and come offline we have a collective obligation to remove and dispose of these installations thoroughly and sustainably.”
Ormat Technologies has broken new ground as it has partnered with DEEP Earth Energy to launch Canada’s first 5MW conventional geothermal power plant.
The two companies have signed a Notice to Proceed Agreement, marking the first step in redefining the region’s energy landscape by bringing the green energy source online. The project marks a significant milestone in Canada’s commitment to sustainable energy as the region has long since been established as having vast geothermal potential.
DEEP Earth Energy’s President and CEO, Kirsten Marcia, said, “We are grateful to have such a strong and committed partner as DEEP prepared to become Canada’s first commercial conventional geothermal power producer. Together, we will revolutionise the geothermal power industry, incorporating DEEP’s first-in-the-world horizontal well design and Ormat’s ORC power generation equipment.”
Ran Reshef, Vice President of International Sales for Ormat Technologies, commented, “It is with great honour that we find ourselves at the forefront of this pivotal transformation in the Canadian energy landscape. As we move forward, let it be known that this is just the beginning.”
The long-serving Northern Producer FPSO, which has spent the last fifteen years at EnQuest’s Dons field in the North Sea, has arrived at Kishorn Port in Scotland for decommissioning.
As per an announcement made on social media, the FPSO has been welcomed at Kishorn Port where preparations are beginning for the decommissioning, recycling and possible re-use of the 12,500 Gt vessel.
Kishorn Port Ltd. thanked the teams of KPL, Ferguson Transport & Shipping, the shore-based marine services team, Green Marine, Jifmar Scotland, Shearwater Marine Services, Ross-shire Diving Services, Chisholm's Recovery Specialists, Interocean Marine Services and its client Northern Offshore Ltd.
The company expressed its delight at landing the contract and finally receiving the vessel for end-of-life operations. It stated that it believes it will be the first time work of this nature has been carried out in a dry dock, with a semi-submersible FPV, as well as being a first for KPL and Kishorn Port under the EU recycling license.
The future decommissioning, demolition and recycling of the Northern Producer will be carried out by lead contractor Liberty Industrial working with KPL and its partners.
Following its arrival, the dock gates would be going back in and sealed before the dock is pumped dry. Survey work will follow once high and dry and necessary steps in its EU Licensing process will follow, working closely with SEPA, HSE the asset owner.
Seequent, a Bentley Subsurface company, has agreed to acquire Flow State Solutions, a leader in geothermal simulation software, in a bid to cement its position as a comprehensive subsurface provider for the geothermal sector.
Graham Grant, CEO, Seequent, remarked, “Geothermal has the potential to help solve the world’s biggest energy challenges. With this acquisition, Seequent’s best-in-class subsurface analysis software enables a full understanding of geothermal asset performance.”
The geothermal reservoir, wellbore and surface network simulation software of Flow State Solutions helps customers better understand geothermal resources for development and optimisation. As per the agreement, the company’s Volsung portfolio will be combined with Seequent’s capabilities to create a robust end-to-end solution for reservoir analysis. Detailed models of the subsurface built in Leapfrog Energy can be utilised in Flow State Solutions’ simulation environment to build a full picture of a geothermal asset.
Flow State Solutions co-founder, Jonathon Clearwater, who will join Seequent as Technical Domain Expert, Reservoir Engineering, commented, “We are excited to join Seequent’s energy team. By combining Seequent’s expertise and our technical capability in geothermal modeling, we are looking forward to making a significant contribution to the renewable energy transition through improved management of natural resources.”
Simon Webbison, Vice President, Exploration and Resource Management, Ormat Technologies, said, “Ormat Technologies is one of the largest and most active geothermal companies globally, and we are delighted to see the combination of Seequent and Flow State Solutions software capabilities through this acquisition. We already use both companies’ software to better understand our geothermal assets and predict performance, and we are looking forward to working with the joint team to continue driving our success.”
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