Pressing climate concerns and an overall healthy oil price across 2022 have set the stage for Australia's decommissioning industry to flourish, according to a new report published by Offshore Network.
Reports estimating that oil prices through 2027 will stay at a healthy rate of approximately US$90 per barrel bodes well for the decommissioning industry as companies can consider liability expenses even more open-handedly.
The government-backed Northern Endeavour project has triggered a flurry of decommissioning prospects to swing into action; a trend that is expected to continue over the next few years. Because of this, promising engineering companies like Wood and Monadelphous are being shot into the limelight, as the government onboarded them for various roles on the Northern Endeavour decommissioning.
Companies like Santos, Woodside, BHP and Vermillion Energy have signed up for kick-starting end-of-life activities, with ExxonMobil leading the way. Chevron has ongoing decommissioning projects onshore and offshore at Thevenard Island, which was rendered inactive in 2014. NOPSEMA has granted decommissioning approval to companies like Woodside, BHP and Cooper Energy early last year. Decommissioning activities in the Enfield Oil Field are being conducted by Woodside in phases, and is expected to be completed by 2024. Australia is financing research initiatives and organisations are tying up to tackle the challenges of decommissioning through knowledge sharing. Xodus, along with ANSTO, SA Radiation, Total Hazardous Integrated Solutions and Qa3, form the Contaminant Advisory Group that helps operators to work through the government’s OPGGS bill.
This flurry of activity has been prompted by a government determined to ensure that decommissioning responsibilities are carried out. The new Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Titles Amendment and other Measures) Act 2021, makes sure the entities intending to carry out petroleum or greenhouse gas activities are capable, competent and responsible in proper discharge of obligations under the act.
The Centre of Decommissioning Australia (CODA) has estimated the decommissioning expenses of the Australian oil and gas industry to reach as high as US$40.5bn, considering the nation's significant asset stock. According to a report by Rystad Energy, 890 offshore wells in total were drilled in Australia before 2015, of which 108 have been permanently abandoned. Around 440 wells are P&A candidates, the majority of which are in the Gippsland Basin.
Based on the identified numbers, CODA has come up with a comprehensive liability report, to serve as the go-to manual for operators when it comes to making smart economical choices. Critical to this, as stressed by Francis Norman, CEO and Managing Director of CODA, is the importance of collaborative campaigning and in-situ decommissioning as effective cost-cutting measures.
Players like CODA are guiding the Australian decommissioning industry through the climate conundrum through strikingly innovative approaches. One of them is the rig-to-reef concept, which involves a special combination of materials that resulted in the Exmouth Integrated Artificial Reef, better known as the 'King Reef' in the Exmouth community. It combined 49 purpose-built concrete modules with six steel structures from a BHP-operated field that is no longer in use, providing home to 27,000 cu/m of new marine habitat. As incredible as that sounds, operators must have clarity about the risks involved as well, so that they can keep pushing barriers through innovation.
With every stakeholder working in tandem and taking onboard lessons from other more developed regions, the Australian industry can ensure that the forthcoming decommissioning wave can be weathered.
Saipem, an advanced technological and engineering platform for the design, construction and operation of infrastructures and plants, has worked with MCS, an underwater technical and digital solutions company, to launch a new asset integrity management system.
As per the announcement on social media, ‘The PALM Suite’ (which stands for Platform for Asset Lean Management) is designed to support offshore energy operators with asset data management, risk assessment and inspections planning of offshore infrastructure across oil and gas, renewables, power and data networks.
According to Saipem, The PALM Suite unlock a new layer of service-oriented capabilities and leverages advanced features such as 3D reconstruction for subsea dimensional control and IoT data gathering. The collaboration brings together Saipem’s extended asset integrity expertise and subsea robotics portfolio with MCS’ data science and software competencies.
BiSN, a leading supplier of downhole sealing solutions and technology to the global oil and gas industry, has been awarded a key contract by a major oil and gas operator in the North Sea.
The three-year contract (which features two one-year extensions) requires BiSN to use its proprietary Wel-lok alloy barrier technology to safely and efficiently plug and abandon oil and gas wells in the North Sea. The technology is a cost-effective and environmentally-driven solution that provides a permanent well-barrier and gas-tight seal in single and multiple annuli.
The scope of work includes providing BiSN Wel-lok alloy plug barrier technology, which ensures a permanent plugging and abandonment of oil and gas wells so that they are securely and reliably sealed, vastly reducing corporate liability and potential environmental impact. BiSN's alloy plugs are a superior solution compared with conventional technology that uses cement, elastomers, resin, or others as sealing elements that deteriorate over time, particularly in harsh environments.
Paul Carragher, Founder and CEO of BiSN, commented, “We are pleased and very excited that BiSN has been awarded this major contract. This is another step forward in the execution of our company mission to provide unique barrier solutions that protect the earth’s natural resources. Our strategic objectives, which include providing our novel technology and best-in-class services, focus on working collaboratively with our customers to support and exceed their well abandonment objectives.”
Mark Nicol, BiSN Regional Business Development Manager – UK, Europe & Africa, added, “This award recognises BiSN’s differentiating technology and capabilities to deliver a permanent well barrier in challenging offshore oil and gas wells. We look forward to collaborating with this operator and all associated stakeholders to successfully complete this project.”
T7 Global Berhad, an energy solutions provider, has secured two contracts worth approximately RM100mn (around US$23mn) from PTTEP Group of Companies and Hibiscus Oil & Gas Malaysia Limited.
The work with PTTEP includes the provision of headhunting and recruitment services while the second letter of award, from Hibiscus, is for the provision of facilities decommissioning services for South Angsi Alpha.
T7 Global Group Chief Executive Officer, Tan Kay Zhuin, commented, “The Hibiscus award marks an important milestone for the Company to execute offshore facility decommissioning projects of such scale. There is initiative for rig-to-reef by converting the structures into artificial reef to enhance the marine habitat at the intended location. We see this as a sustainable approach for oil & gas operators moving forward which can contribute to their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda. Over the next few years, we will be on the lookout for more ESG related projects in the region.”
TechnipFMC, a global oil and gas company that provides complete project life cycle services for the energy industry, has been awarded a substantial master services agreement (MSA) for subsea services offshore Brazil.
The three-year contract, awarded by state-owned Petrobras, has an option to extend for a further two years. TechnipFMC will provide life-of-field services to support its installed base offshore Brazil.
The contract – worth between US$250mn-US$500mn as per TechnipFMC’s definition of a ‘substantial contract’ – covers installation, intervention, and maintenance of both equipment and tooling, as well as technical support for subsea umblicals, risers and flowlines.
The agreement succeeds a previous MSA and supports Petrobras’s increased volume of operations. Services will be supplied from TechnipFMC’s base in Macaé, Brazil.
Jonathan Landes, President, Subsea at TechnipFMC, commented, “This new MSA continues our enduring partnership with Petrobras. We are delighted to continue this relationship through this direct award. For 40 years, we have provided services from Macaé, demonstrating the strength of our commitment to delivering services using our in-country workforce.”
Esso Australia, a subsidiary of Exxonmobil Australia, has entered into an agreement with Helix Energy Solutions to charter the Helix Q7000 semisubmersible vessel to support decommissioning activity across the Gippsland Basin.
The vessel will join Esso Australia’s growing fleet, with its roster of mobile offshore assets now including Rig 22, the HWT600 and a DOF Subsea Multi-Purpose Support Vessel.
Dylan Pugh, ExxonMobil Australia’s Chair, said, “The Helix Q7000 is a welcome addition to our extensive fleet of vessels and rigs currently operating across the Gippsland Basin. It is the forth mobile offshore asset we have added to our decommissioning fleet, and marks the first time we will be using a light well intervention vessel for subsea work locally.
“We are committed to sourcing the right assets for the work we are completing, given the variety of fields we have operated for over 50 years. Our priority is to remain safe, whilst using fit for purpose solutions which ensure we are meeting our decommissioning requirements.”
The Helix Q7000 is set to support decommissioning activities in Bass Strait from the end of 2023.
Tirex P&E, a drilling and well intervention services company, has completed the Ikike well drilling and intervention campaign for Total Energies offshore Nigeria.
According to media reports, Tirex P&E is pleased to have participated in such developmental strides that will be of great impact on the growth and capacity of Nigeria, particularly in the promotion of local content by the Federal Government of Nigeria. This milestone will help the West African energy giant revitalise its oil output following a decline in production in the past two years.
The project reportedly commenced in July 2021 on the Ikike Field which is located approximately 20 km off the coast of Nigeria. It was part of the oil mining lease with a total of five wells drilled and completed alongside a 120-day well intervention scope at the Amenam Platform.
Located 20 km off the coast, the Ikike Platform is tied back to the existing Amenam offshore facilities through a 14 km multiphase pipeline and will deliver peak production of more than 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
As the focus on environmental sustainability has never been more prevalent across all industries than it is right now, the race is on to find long-term renewable solutions to the climate crisis. Operators across the globe are trying to make their innovations in the oil and gas industry as green as possible, but that is not an easy stepping-stone to overcome.
Geothermal energy could be the answer so many are looking for. It is a method of clean energy which bridges the gap between the oil and gas industry and renewable energy sources in order to reach net zero. The US has already increased federal funding by millions of dollars in 2022 alone to widen the scope of geothermal projects up and down the country, tapping into the underutilized potential beneath our feet.
A key area of interest within the geothermal industry is that of repurposing end-of-life oil and gas wells. Geothermal companies can turn these assets back into active wells, only producing a slightly different end-product, negating the need for decommissioning services and the associated costs. Operators can turn their liabilities into profitable assets at a quarter of the cost while producing green energy.
In spite of the benefits associated with geothermal, there are a number of issues holding the industry back from becoming a mainstream alternative. For one, the extortionate upfront costs associated with starting geothermal projects from scratch prove a wall too vast to climb in most instances, as well as the technological challenges that present themselves when working with temperatures of this calibre.
Nevertheless, advanced methods and technologies are working at mitigating against the challenges posed by geothermal extraction, using expertise from the oil and gas industry to finesse already existing drilling equipment in order to marry the industries together to be able to harness a green energy source born from an oil well.
Claxton, the University of Aberdeen, the National Decommissioning Centre and the Net Zero Technology Centre (which is providing funding and oversight), have continued to move ahead in the delivery of the Underwater Laser Cutting (UWLC) system, an alternative and clean underwater cutting technology ready to take the decommissioning market by storm.
UWLC improves efficiency when used for downsizing activity or applicable subsea decommissioning scopes and offers the flexibility of deployment methods in storage ponds, tanks and offshore. It was noted by the partners that the technology has the potential to ‘revolutionise’ subsea cutting.
The initial phase of the partnership, delivered between 2019 and 2021, saw the development of the UWLC system targeted at delivering offshore cutting trials in 70 metres seawater depth. The Net Zero Technology Centre funding supported partners in the development of underwater capable optics; the design and manufacturing of an underwater laser cutting head; procurement and packaging of a 15KW laser generator for offshore operations; and design and manufacture of control system software and hardware suitable for 50 bar hyperbaric conditions.
Successful delivery of this phase was demonstrated through subsea cutting performed at 70 metres seawater depth. This included 250 underwater cuts performed on structural steel up to 120 mm thick; Human Machine Interface (HMI) and 500 metre depth capable electronic control system; the design and manufacture of 500 metre depth rated subsea laser cutting head; and the system verified at technology readiness level 6 and suitable for further development.
The next phase of the partnership is planned for 2023-24 and involved the development of the UWLC system targeted at delivering a cutting tool suitable for real offshore cutting scope. The Net Zero Technology Centre will provide funding once again for this stage and a Tier 1 oil and gas producer and vessel operator will also contribute.
This phase will include a selection of suitable cutting opportunities; the development of the laser cutting head through the incorporation of lessons learned from phase 1; the development of a cutting tool to manipulate the laser cutting head to suit the cutting scope; and the integration of the HMI and electronic control from phase 1 into the intelligent cutting tool to optimise cutting head manipulation and performance.
The success of the second phase will be measured by performance on an actual offshore cutting scope against typical mechanical or abrasive cutting solutions. The objective is to demonstrate the system as a proven cutting technology for suitable applications, with the system being verified at technology readiness level 7 and suitable for further commercialisation.
“It is fantastic to be involved in such a great partnership and work with an inspiring team on this development project,” commented Craig Baxter – Decommissioning Technical Manager, Claxton. “The technology is showing great promise in delivering cross sector decommissioning work scopes. I am looking forward to delivering an offshore decommissioning work scope through 2023 with a view to commercialising the technology and opening it up as a cutting solution available to the oil and gas, nuclear and offshore wind decommissioning market.”
Petrofac has exercised its contracted rig hire option on one further well as well management contractor for the Tullow P&A campaign on PSC-A Banda and PSC-B Tiof wells offshore Mauritania.
The optional well is the Banda-1 subsea exploration well and is estimated to take 20 days to complete Petrofac’s plug and abandonment operations. This means that the total work is now for five well re-entries.
Island Drilling has stated its pleasure in extending its relationship with Petrofac and continuing to add to its backlog for the Island Innovator, a fully equipped semi-submersible drilling unit with a 165 ton active heave compensated crane.
Once completed, the vessel will continue on to UK waters where it will carry out a work programme with Dana Petroleum.
Trendsetter Engineering Inc. has been awarded a contract to support the development of Beacon Offshore Energy LLC’s Shenandoah project in the Gulf of Mexico.
The awarded scope includes a multi-year rental and servicing agreement for the provision of a 20,000 psi Subsea Well Intervention package, with the system delivery expected for Q3 2023.
Trendsetter’s TRIDENT intervention systems provide an innovation solution for subsea well interventions, suitable for offshore mobilisation to a vessel of opportunity and capable of rapid re-configuration to facilitate hydraulic, riser-less light well and risered medium well subsea intervention operations.
“We are excited to extend our partnership with Beacon and support its Shenandoah development,” said Mike Cargol, Vice President of Intervention Solutions, Trendsetter.
“This award reaffirms Trendsetter’s commitment to the industry for innovative, safe and cost-effective HPHT well control and well intervention systems, building upon our successes with the 15,000 psi TRIDENT system and multiple 20,000 psi well control response packages delivered in recent years.”
Trendsetter’s involvement with the Shenandoah field projects extends beyond the implementation of the intervention system. Earlier this year, the company was also awarded contracts to deliver components of the subsea production and export equipment, including a six-slot production manifold, subsea valves, and Trendsetter’s own TCS connectors.
Archer Limited has announced the acquisition of P&A specialist company Romar-Abrado, increasing its growth within the well services sector.
The acquisition is based on an enterprise value of US$8mn, plus earn-out pending trading performance over the 2023-2025 period.
“We are pleased to announce the investment in Romar-Abrado, continuing out growth within our well services segment. The acquisition is another value creating investment which expands our capabilities within workover operations and well abandonment,” said CEO of Archer, Dag Skindlo.
“Romar-Abrado fits well with our strategy for brownfield and P&A. We expect activity to increase within these markets going forward as fundamentals and outlook remain strong. In addition, the transaction will contribute to the acceleration of our international expansion within the well services segment.”
Romar-Abrado offers advanced milling and SWARF handling services to the global P&A market, with its combined approach and operator knowledge providing innovative technologies to deliver permanent, emission-free barriers and alternative zonal isolation solutions.
Jason Broussard, CEO, Romar-Abrado, said, “We are happy to join forces with Archer to further develop and broaden our products and services in Romar-Abrado. Archer is a great fit for the Romar-Abrado business with their global footprint and service offering within workover and abandonment.”
Based on the acquisition and current trading levels, Archer’s financial guidance has increased for 2023, lifting to 20-25% above 2022 levels.
This announcement is but further indication of the mounting interest around end-of-life practices as the global well stock continues to age and environmental concerns continue to build. Perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than in the North Sea where the well intervention market is looking increasingly strong for the years ahead.
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