Sign up for our newsletter
Latest News
- Region: All
- Topics: Integrity
- Date: Mar, 2022
Verlume, a leader in intelligent energy management and storage technologies for the energy industry, and a consortium of partners have progressed on the development of an autonomous underwater robot that moves like a fish for offshore inspections.
The agile biomimetic autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), named ‘RoboFish’, is made up of several self-contained modules with self-managed battery and actuator control for full-body, autonomous movement around underwater structures. It is capable of operating in harsh and hard-to-reach environments.
With the limited accessibility, manoeuvrability and environmental impact of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and some larger AUVs, inspection of structures in the underwater environment is complex, expensive, and reliant on human input.
The first RoboFish prototype was completed in summer 2020 and research to improve it and apply it to new applications is ongoing. Two conference papers and a journal paper have been published on the RoboFish prototype, with another journal paper due to be published this year on control of the swimming gait with machine learning.
Dr. Mark Post, Lecturer in Electronic Engineering at the University of York, commented, “Through the use of innovative electronics, actuation, networking technology and additive manufacturing techniques, we have been able to develop a modular robot that can move very precisely in challenging offshore environments. The collaborative contributions of many partners have been instrumental in creating a practical platform to further develop robotic technologies in this field.”
Verlume is playing a key role in the project, assisting with the development of an intelligent power solution for RoboFish. The company will supply an underwater power system for charging, as well as an integrated intelligent battery management system.
Paul Slorach, Business Development Director at Verlume, said, “With an increasing focus on decarbonisation and the automation of high-risk underwater tasks in the so-called Blue Economy, RoboFish is an example of how these operations can be revolutionised. We are pleased to act as the industry gateway for our academic partners in this project and share our expertise to integrate Verlume’s intelligent battery system as the power solution for RoboFish.”
RoboFish was initially devised by researchers at the University of York, Department of Electrical Engineering and the University of Strathclyde, Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering with grant support from the EPSRC Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy Hub.
The RoboFish research consortium was formed of partners Verlume, The University of York, The University of Strathclyde, PicSea Ltd, the Supergen ORE Hub, and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult. Through outreach activities, the consortium is expanding.
- Region: All
- Topics: Integrity
- Date: Mar, 2022
Expro, a provider of energy services, has acquired 100% of Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) company, SolaSense Ltd.
Based in the UK, SolaSense’s well surveillance technology features portable processing software and an enhanced visualisation interface for delivering near-real-time analysis of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) / distributed temperature sensing (DTS) data at the well site. This allows well characteristics to be readily recognised and evaluated, avoiding the shut-in of wells for extended periods and minimising lost production.
This acquisition along with Expro’s 50 years of well intervention and integrity experience, will allow the company to meet industry demand to provide customers with a one-stop-shop service for the in-depth evaluation of the entire well and also the provision of any subsequent remediation solutions. Expro’s DFOS offering monitors dynamic behaviour in the well, providing a health check of the well and an accurate diagnosis of any well and reservoir issues.
Compared to traditional completion deployed applications of fibre optic technologies, DFOS can be deployed thru-tubing and used to analyse and evaluate well performance and integrity within hours of the completion of the survey providing greater insight into the dynamic behaviour of the well, to help customers make important time-sensitive decisions. Supported by DFOS, it can provide an enhanced cased hole offering integrated slickline mechanical services all within Expro.
Steve Russell, Expro’s Chief Technology Officer, commented, “We are committed to delivering cost-effective, innovative technologies and solutions, and best-in-class safety and service quality performance to our customers, all while advancing our commitment to creating a more sustainable business and lower carbon future.
“Access to representative well data is key for making informed well performance and integrity decisions. This acquisition allows us to build on our existing well intervention and integrity portfolio, leveraging the expertise from both companies to extend our customer’s wells’ lifespan, while reducing time and costs. Led by a highly skilled and dedicated team with extensive industry experience, we look forward to building on our digital solutions and welcoming the SolaSense team to the Expro family,” he added.
John Davies, SolaSense CEO, said, “The SolaSense ambition has always been to see distributed fibre optic logging being used widely as a simple and affordable means of well performance and well integrity monitoring. The integration of SolaSense’s technology and expertise into Expro’s existing global well intervention footprint will fast track the realisation of this ambition, and more importantly, add value for the end customers through the wider uptake of fiber-enabled slickline deployed DFOS surveys. The SolaSense team are very excited about this significant development and look forward to supporting Expro in the fast and efficient expansion of DFOS well logging.”
- Region: Gulf of Mexico
- Date: Mar, 2022
Helix Robotics Solutions, the US Robotics division of Helix Energy Solutions Group, has entered into a one-year agreement with Bordelon Marine, LLC for the charter of the DP2 Jones Act-compliant Ultra-Light Intervention Vessel (ULIV) M/V Shelia Bordelon.
While Helix expects the vessel to primarily support Inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) operations for clients operating in US waters, it can support international work as well.
Designed as a fuel-efficient intervention vessel, the Shelia Bordelon features an NOV 50-tonne active heave compensating crane with 3,000 metres of wire, a mezzanine deck with internal offices, centralised online survey suite, offline data processing space, and two Triton 200hp ROVs with high spec survey capabilities.
With over 25 years of IRM expertise, Helix Robotics Solutions is well equipped to service clients’ light construction and renewables projects. The company performs subsea well interventions through wireline, coiled tubing, or hydraulic stimulation at project costs significantly lower than drilling rigs, with the versatility to perform both riser-based and riserless interventions.
- Region: North Sea
- Date: Mar, 2022
Unity, a provider of well integrity solutions, are supporting a North Sea well decommissioning programme for a major international operator, using its multifunctional Surface Intervention System (SIS).
The SIS has already completed intervention work on the first well, where it was deployed offline to set a shallow bridge plug in preparation for the removal of wellhead equipment. Unity’s standalone technology replaced the need for traditional intervention equipment. It delivered considerable savings to the operator in cost, time and efficiency, by working below deck while plug and abandonment (P&A) drilling operations were ongoing. Compared to traditional methods, the intervention was performed around 60% faster and delivered a cost and personnel package saving of 66%.
During the project, deck space and bed space were limited due to drilling operations, but Unity’s compact SIS technology, which requires just two technicians to operate, provided the ideal shallow intervention solution. The SIS was also said to be easy to accommodate on the platform below the drilling rig in a restricted well bay. The SIS and pressure control package were rigged-up below deck using a small A-frame crane provided by Unity. The plug was set first time and the equipment was rigged down within 24 hours.
Gary Smart, CEO at Unity said, “The SIS has great utility and has been by used several operators for milling, inspection, fracturing and P&A operations, enabling material savings against traditional shallow well intervention techniques. This technology will soon be joining our newly-announced Compact Shear Seal Valve technology, reducing the footprint and weight of the overall system even further.”
The SIS is the first multifunctional shallow well intervention system on the market and combines heavyweight capability within a compact and mobile package. The SIS has a powerful hydraulic motor, driving a push, pull and rotate function which can rival wireline or coiled tubing capability.
Unity has established an impressive well decommissioning project track record which currently extends to over 150 wells with another 230 in the pipeline over the next three years.
- Region: Middle East
- Date: Mar, 2022
Jordan Whyte, Head of Commercial & Business Development at Gulf Marine Services (GMS), explained to Offshore Network how the company is facilitating more efficient heavy well intervention operations to save time and costs.
In the Middle East, attention is firmly fixed on increasing production. While the energy transition has threatened to shake confidence, key players have reaffirmed their faith in the oil and gas market in the years ahead by looking to increase production – Saudi Arabia’s Aramco has signalled its intention to increase oil production to 13mn bpd (up from 12mn bpd) and ADNOC is aiming to boost capacity to 5mn bpd (up from 4mn bpd).
Within the region, Whyte explained, one of the most favoured ways of increasing production is to workover existing wells using the likes of jack-up barges to re-stimulate wells in shallow waters. It is for this reason that of the 12 barges GMS currently has in the Middle East, around half are presently engaged in some form of well service operations (there is another barge in the North Sea working in renewables).
“Covid-19 dramatically delayed a lot of contracts of course but, subsequently, these have been reactivated. Now it is in overdrive, driven by these production targets and allied to the large population of existing shallow water platforms; the simplest and most efficient ways to reach these is by using jack-up barges. While we are not downhole engineering experts, we are the medium to carry out these operations and currently have high utilisation levels due to the production boom,” Whyte said.
GMS’ Evolving Capacity
Standing apart in GMS’ fleet is the Evolution self-propelled, self-elevating well intervention barge which was commissioned back in 2017. Fitted on board is the bespoke cantilever workover system, delivered in collaboration with Norwegian-based Dwellop.
This unit skids hydraulically from the main deck of the barge out of the back end for the best part of 50 ft; has a light weight drilling derrick that comes complete with top drive system; and has a high level of automation such as a pipe handling system that will pick pipe up off the deck and feed into the top drive before running in hole. There is also an automated iron roughneck on board and everything is run from a driller’s cabin on the side of the unit so that pipe can be tripped in and out of the well at significant speeds (up to 1,000 ft an hour). Below the deck is also a full Mud System with everything normally associated with a drilling rig; enhancing the vessel’s capacity.
Whyte remarked, “In a sense it is very similar to a jack-up rig but it is a hell of a lot lighter and thus can skid out over a platform much faster (typically only 30 minutes). There is some transverse movement which means we can also skid left to right in order to workover adjacent wells without having to necessarily move the barge itself. When we do have to skid back, rig down and move elsewhere, we can typically do so and be ready to work at another location within 24 hours. This is significantly faster than a jack-up rig for example which can take the best part of two to three days and even more if the weather is poor. Not to mention the fact no tug-boats are required to get it to the next location due largely to our clients comfort operating Evolution in DP-2 mode when approaching platforms. As a result, the Evolution can workover up to three or four times as many wells per year compared to a typical non-propelled drilling jack-up in any given field.”
“We are trying to bring down the costs of all brownfield workover operations and the Evolution offers flexibility and cost saving due largely to the superior marine efficiencies.”
The Evolution was purpose built for P&A and workover scopes but can also perform some drilling operations. Whyte noted that it is really only limited by the amount of tubular piping that can be carried on deck (and a few others such as top drive torque capability and hook load) and the 200t crane on board means it even has the ability to remove small jackets although that has not been done to date.
In once case study provided by GMS, the Evolution was contracted by an Arabian Gulf NOC for a well intervention scope covering various operations. The barge jacked up alongside a similar vessel to transfer well services equipment (which was moved across and commissioned in a record two days) before sailing to the platform tower, jacking up and deploying the cantilever system. The unit was ready to commence operations with three hours (saving 90% rig time) and rig up of well services equipment was completed in 31 hours (achieving 15% time saving). Following this, rig down of well services and preparation for the barge to move was completed in just 14 hours.
On the Horizon
Currently the Evolution is performing legacy work for Qatar Energy (QE) on a field which was previously operated by Occidental Petroleum for around 25 years. The former owners used a more traditional method of workover which QE continued until GMS suggested that the Evolution would be more efficient. In the 18 months since then, the Evolution has been proving its worth and this is without even reaching its full potential.
“In truth we are not even at the stage where we are using Evolution at 100% of her capability but we are certainly working towards that. As it gets more tried and tested and both the crew and client gains confidence, we will be more prepared to tackle more difficult workovers and remediation projects. But it is fair to say that, so far, it is going well and QE appreciate the marine efficiencies being achieved,” Whyte noted.
Pushing, the Evolution to greater heights is just one of the targets on the horizon for GMS, Whyte continued. The company has recently taken a big step in its digital journey by signing a contract to install an enterprise resource planning system which will provide the company with an interconnected system across its operations, giving it the ability to upgrade internal procedures; integrate vessel operations, maintenance, procurement and inventory control, alongside crew and payroll management; and centralise data for better visibility. Whyte surmised that while it will not be fully up and running for a couple of months yet, the company has already started to feel the benefits (most notably in the real-time communication between offshore and onshore) which is a promising sign for the digital road ahead.
Another exciting development is through the delivery of a lighter cantilever system which the company is looking to push across the line for commercial use. This is, as it says on the tin, a lighter version of the system which can be used for all well services which do not require tubing to be pulled from the well.
Whyte said, “It can skid out just as far and can be retrofitted to existing vessels. There is a lot of interest from NOCs for this and we are looking for more opportunities for the cantilever system and its lighter cousin. As the rig rates continue to rise and move away from barges, we think our offerings will become increasingly more attractive to operators for both heavier and lighter workover operations.”
Finally, Whyte concluded by noting that the company is keeping an eye on other regions for which its fleet could be deployed with regard to well service and workover operations.
“West Africa is finally waking up to well servicededicated barges; in the North Sea there is some increased activity in terms of P&A; and there is interest from regions such as Asia and Australia to bring in some of our barges. The Evolution is capable of operating anywhere with water depth of around 70m and has proved herself in other regions such as the North Sea before,” Whyte continued.
“We put no barriers on where we work as long as the economics work out. That being said, such is the boom and demand here that, at the moment, we are very focused in the Middle East region. The Evolution itself has been working in Qatar for the last two years and fingers crossed we expect her to continue there for some time.”
OWI ME 2022
GMS will be speaking further on this at OWI ME 2022 on the 28-29 March 2022 in Dubai, UAE. Register here or reach out to Rachael Brand on the details below for more information:
Rachael Brand
Project Manager, Offshore Network
t: +44 (0) 20 3409 3041
e:
- Region: North Sea
- Date: Mar, 2022
Spirit Energy Production UK Ltd. has awarded Heerema Marine Contractors a contract for removal and disposal services of the operator’s North Sea decommissioning portfolio.
The EPRD (engineering, preparations, removal, and disposal) contract includes both firm work and optional scope that can be called-off by the client. Heerema Marine Contractors will lead its part of the work out of its offices in Leiden (NL) and London (UK). Heerema will cooperate with DeepOcean, the subsea asset removal contractor, to deliver the safe and sustainable decommissioning of the platforms.
The firm scope involves the EPRD of the Audrey A, Audrey B and Ensign platforms, while the optional work includes an additional five platforms in the southern North Sea region of the UK and Dutch sectors.
Following a joint tender submitted in cooperation with DeepOcean Subsea Services Limited, both firms have secured contracts that will be executed under a tripartite collaboration agreement.
Heerema’s scope is to remove and recycle the platform topsides and substructures, while DeepOcean will be responsible for removing and recycling all subsea assets at the relevant fields. The combined weight of the firm scope topsides and jackets is around 7000 metric tons, and will be recycled in the UK. The platforms are located between 23-26 metres of water.
Heerema’s Decommissioning Director, Michel Hendriks, commented, “Decommissioning North Sea platforms is an important component within Heerema’s portfolio, and we are proud to be Spirit Energy’s chosen contractor for the topside and substructure scope. We are also looking forward to working alongside DeepOcean and their team to deliver the safe and sustainable removal of the Audrey A, Audrey B, and Ensign platforms.”
- Region: North Sea
- Topics: Decommissioning
- Date: Mar, 2022
Legasea has successfully secured funding from Scottish Enterprise to develop their 'Shore to Store' service, while creating green jobs.
The project will reduce the carbon footprint of subsea decommissioning operations, by taking subsea equipment that is no longer required, and finding routes to refurbish, recertify, remanufacture and reuse, keeping as many components as possible in use, with a projected annual carbon saving of 10,000 tonnes CO2. Legasea plans to invest UK£1.3mn (US$1.7mn), during the three year project, supported by a UK£187,950 (US$247,516) grant, to be received following the creation of at least six new green jobs.
The project is the conclusion of several years of research and planning conducted by Legasea, involving engagement with a wide range of operators and service companies in the subsea sector, to develop a service which benefits the industry environmentally and economically. Since establishing the company in 2018, Legasea have also consulted with a range of government and industry stakeholders, to ensure that the service is closely aligned with decommissioning and environmental policy, and the company has been awarded a SEPA Waste Management Licence, which permits Legasea to accept range of material, defined as waste, from subsea decommissioning operations.
Legasea workshop
Lewis Sim, Managing Director at Legasea, said, “We are grateful to have received this support from Scottish Enterprise to grow our team and assist with launching the Shore to Store service for the subsea sector. The reception that we have received from across the industry, since establishing the company, has been incredible, and we look forward to continued growth whilst reducing the environmental impact of subsea decommissioning.”
Managing Director of Business Services and Advice at Scottish Enterprise, Jane Martin said, “The Green Jobs Call was established to enable companies like Legasea to create green jobs and support a sustainable Scottish economy. It is great to see this subsea specialist based in Aberdeenshire provide employment opportunities in the North-East of Scotland and highlights the vitality and talent in the area that is driving energy transition.
“Legasea’s shore to store service, with an annual forecast reduction of 10,000 tonnes of CO2 through the process of reusing and recycling components is great news for the environment and the economy. The project also highlights the innovation taking place across the energy industry to transition to a cleaner, greener economy as we drive towards net zero targets too,” Martin added.
- Region: All
- Topics: Decommissioning
- Date: Mar, 2022
The Net Zero Technology Centre has recently announced the launch of its 2022 Open Innovation Programme aimed at developing and deploying technologies to reduce offshore emissions, accelerate clean energy production, and enable the delivery of the UK’s net-zero ambitions.
The 2022 programme will feature two funding competitions, the first of which is opening in March, 2022 and the second scheduled for October later this year.
Businesses from across the globe can apply for a share of US$9.2mn available in the first competition, with a maximum of US$1.3mn to be awarded to each successful project.
The projects, in order to secure the funding, must support the transition towards net-zero with an obligation of trialling and deploying technology within the UK continental shelf. As well as funding, the projects will also gain access to data, facilities, and technical expertise from the industry. Seven technology focus areas have been identified for the first competition:
Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS)
Hydrogen and clean fuels
Renewables and energy storage
Zero emissions power
Venting and flaring
Integrity management
Late-life and decommissioning
Digital and data architecture, smart assets and field automation will be included in the technology focus areas within the second US$3.9 funding competition due for launch in October 2022.
Myrtle Dawes, Solution Centre Director, Net Zero Technology Centre commented, “Following COP26, it is clear that we need to urgently focus on accelerating the delivery of technologies that will secure our net-zero ambitions. Our updated funding model will allow us to concentrate on specific technology gaps to develop and commercialise the innovative technologies that are currently in the prototype and demonstration phase and ultimately drive the huge leaps in clean energy innovation that will deliver our 2050 emission reduction targets.”
Scottish Government Economy Secretary Kate Forbes on the competition, “Accelerating efforts to reach net-zero is a priority for this Scottish Government, which is providing US$118mn funding to the Net Zero Technology Centre through the Aberdeen City Region Deal.”
“This funding competition will help the energy sector develop and deploy the innovative technologies required to achieve a just transition for Scotland,” she added.
UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said, "The UK Government is investing US$118mn in the centre as part of our broader package of support for the North Sea transition, with a goal of helping the region's energy industry cut emissions by 50% by 2030. This will help bring prosperity and jobs to communities across the region by attracting investment in new facilities, skills and technologies."
- Region: All
- Date: Mar, 2022
Siem Offshore and Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc, have entered into an agreement for the well intervention Vessels Siem Helix 1 and Siem Helix 2 which replace the existing contracts.
The new firm period will be three years for Siem Helix 1 and 5 years for Siem Helix 2 with subsequent options for both vessels. Commencement will be in direct continuation of present contracts within the first quarter of 2022.
The two vessels are said to be purpose designed, advanced well intervention vessels capable of completing a wide range of subsea projects such as well intervention, decommissioning, top hole drilling, subsea installation work, offshore crane and ROV operations, offshore construction work and emergency response capabilities. Both vessels have a length of 158 metres, a beam of 31 metres and an accommodation capacity for 150 people. They can operate in up to 3,000 metres of water with transit speed in excess of 15 kn.
This extension has reconfirmed Siem Offshore’s important role within the well intervention segment, and the company stated that it is very pleased to see a key client such as Helix Energy Solutions extend their professional relationship.
Total contract backlog for SIOFF is now valued at US$440mn.
- Region: Australia
- Date: Mar, 2022
Expanded remedial direction provisions for offshore petroleum titles, referred to as trailing liability, came into effect on 2 March 2022.
These expanded the Government of Australia’s powers to call back titleholders, former titleholders, related bodies corporate, and related persons of current or former titleholders, to perform remedial work on offshore assets if required. The provisions apply to titles as they existed on or after 1 January 2021.
The strengthened provisions ensure that the risks and liabilities of petroleum activities remain the responsibility of the petroleum industry. Trailing liability is intended as an option of last resort and is expected to be used rarely. The primary obligation to decommission remains with the current titleholder.
The Government has now released the trailing liability for decommissioning of offshore petroleum property guideline which will help to understand the scope of the trailing liability provisions and provides general information on how these provisions may be applied.
Find the guide here: https://www.industry.gov.au/data-and-publications/trailing-liability-for-decommissioning-of-offshore-petroleum-property-guidelines
D&A Aus 2022
From 10-11 May, the first ever Decommissioning and Abandonment conference will be arriving in Perth, Australia to provide the offshore community with the best blueprint for the wave of decommissioning projects on the horizon. For more information, download the brochure here: https://offsnet.com/da-aus/conference-brochure
Or contact:
Erin Smith
Global Accounts & Australasia Regional Manager
Offshore Network
t: +64 289 900 118
e:
- Region: Gulf of Mexio
- Topics: Decommissioning
- Date: Mar, 2022
Modern American Recycling Services, Inc. (MARS) has recently finalised the acquisition of the DP3 Diving Support Construction vessel Caballo Marango representing a substantial investment in the offshore market and further increasing the company’s footprint worldwide.
The move is also said to support the continued growth of the offshore decommissioning and subsea installation industry. The vessel will be owned by MARS and operated by Shore Offshore Services, LLC.
The vessel, previously named Caballo Marango, was built at the Marco Polo Shipyard in Batam, Indonesia in 2013. MARS said that the vessel will be renamed Captain America and will maintain its Panamanian flag while following ABS guidelines. The DSCV Captain America will also be relocated to its new homeport located in Pascagoula, Mississippi, where it is scheduled to undergo the necessary service and maintenance required to get back into class by end of the year 2022.
According to MARS, Captain America will be outfitted to perform floating platform and FPSO decommissioning subsea work, small flexible flowline, cable and umbilical lay/retrieval, drilling rig equipment change, and wind farm construction. The 399-man accommodation will support decommissioning preparatory work, platform support for maintenance, field upgrades and will also be able to provide offshore support as a flotel.
The 141.7 m long vessel is equipped with a large 1500 sq m clear deck, a 480 sq m covered deck and a 100 sq m poop deck. A 1000 MT– 35000 Liebherr crane is also carried by the vessel, making it ideal for the construction of floating wind farms.
President, Dwight (Butch) Caton, Sr of MARS, USA said, “MARS is always preparing to meet the future demands of our clients and to support them in their construction and decommissioning needs. Acquiring a dive and construction vessel ensures that we are ready to serve our clients’ needs now and in the future. This investment prepares us for the increase in the market and allows us to maintain our leadership position. We are sure that Captain America will have an impressive career in the MARS fleet and it underlines our efforts to meet and exceed our customers’ requirements”.
D&A GOM 2022
At D&A GOM 2022, the offshore community is set to reunite face-to-face to discuss the challenges and opportunities marking decommissioning and abandonment in the region, listen to sessions delving into current complex situations and network to help each other optimise their strategies. To find out more, download the brochure: www.offsnet.com/da-gom/conference-brochure
Or contact:
Joseph Watson
Project Manager
Offshore Network Ltd.
t: +44 (0) 20 3409 5720
e:
- Region: All
- Topics: Integrity
- Date: Mar, 2022
Unity, one of Europe’s largest providers of well integrity solutions, has launched a new range of compact technologies to solve common industry challenges and support Unity’s surface well integrity, shallow intervention and well decommissioning services.
For offshore operations, the new products reduce well bay space requirements, simplify and accelerate offline mobilisation and reduce person on board, cost and risk. Due to these efficiencies, the products all offer between 50-75% savings in OPEX.
The new technology range includes a compact dual-bore xmas tree isolation system, a compact valve removal tool and a compact shear-seal valve. The products complement Unity’s existing Surface Intervention System (SIS), the first product in this compact technology range. It is already delivering multi-functional operations such as inspection, plug setting, milling and xmas tree removal, at reduced cost and improved efficiency compared to wireline or coiled tubing intervention. The SIS is the most compact of its type on the market with a footprint of around 2 sq ft, requiring only two technicians to operate.
The new dual-bore xmas tree isolation system has a footprint of just 1.5 sq ft with an operating height of only 6 ft above the well cap. It can be mobilised and deployed rapidly for shallow plug setting, particularly suited to support and reduce the cost of P&A operations. It can be deployed offline without the need for traditional intervention equipment, saving around 60-75% or more per well. Time savings from rig-up to rig-down are in the order of two to three hours compared to two to three days for wireline or coiled tubing interventions and the system is quickly and easily moved between wells.
The valve removal tool is also designed for use in cramped well bays and delivers an impressive, industry leading, 1,200 ft/lbs torque with optional hydraulic operation without the associated space normally required for such operations. Its rental price is around 60% lesser than similar products.
The new compact shear-seal valve is designed to reduce the weight and geometry of intervention pressure control equipment. It utilises a hydraulically actuated ram but is 50% lighter and 30% smaller than the next closest comparable product. It is rated to cut slickline, wireline, SIS rods and coiled tubing and is modular in design, allowing dual redundant stack-up configurations. Its compact size and reduced weight improve handling and help to reduce concerns over structural integrity on late-life assets.
Gary Smart, CEO at Unity said, “Unity is engaged in long term contract work on over 1,000 wells around Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Our investment in this new compact technology range has followed on the back of significant contract wins over the last 18 months, which have highlighted several common technical challenges faced by the industry, particularly in the late-life, P&A and well decommissioning market. We are very excited to be offering such an impressive step-change in savings and technical advancement to the market.”
D&A GOM 2022
Innovative technology for decommissioning and related operations will soon be on display at D&A GOM 2022, arriving in Houston, Texas, on 18 May. At this event, the offshore community is set to reunite face-to-face to discuss the challenges and opportunities marking decommissioning and abandonment in the region, listen to sessions delving into current complex situations and network to help each other optimise their strategies. To find out more, download the brochure: www.offsnet.com/da-gom/conference-brochure
Or contact:
Joseph Watson
Project Manager
Offshore Network Ltd.
t: +44 (0) 20 3409 5720
e:
Page 52 of 80
