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- Region: Gulf of Mexico
- Topics: Decommissioning
- Date: Feb, 2022
With many oil rigs being decommissioned in the Gulf of Mexico each year, plans of converting rigs for alternatives like offshore multi-trophic aquaculture (finfish, oyster and algae) production and renewable energy, has been on the cards for oilmen and fisheries alike.
US regulations already allow US Gulf of Mexico platforms to be used for other purposes, apart from oil and gas production. Right of Use and Easement (RUE) permits for alternative uses of offshore platforms have been granted in the past and these regulations would also allow for aquaculture and other marine-related activities. Leasing of Gulf of Mexico areas for wind power is expected to begin in late 2022.
Aquaculture is an increasingly important source of nutritious and sustainable seafood for people worldwide. Globally, aquaculture production must double by 2030 to keep pace with demand. This increase in demand for aquaculture products, food security considerations, and job creation has generated the need for skilled workers.
Ivan Puckett, one of the founders of Blue Silo Aquaculture LLC, while speaking to The Fish Site, said, “Our objective is to find as many uses as possible because we will need an income stream to maintain and operate the platforms. There’s enough space on these installations for several projects and the more operations we can have, the better it is.”
Aquaculture is one of the sectors they see as having the most promise for extending the useful shelf life of the platforms.
Puckett believes aquaculture is promising. “The water quality and oxygen levels are good and disease transmission is low. However, travel expenses to and from the platforms are high, the weather can be challenging, with hurricanes not infrequent and living arrangements are more challenging,” he added.
Kent Satterlee, co-founder Blue Silo Aquaculture LLC, informed that the company is planning to initially install a grid of 12 of Innovasea’s SeaStation pens and add another 12 at another platform site.
The SeaStation design includes the ability to be raised above the waterline in calm weather, exposing the netting to naturally defoul in the sunshine and then be submerged to a depth where they will avoid the full impact of any hurricanes or storm events that happen to pass.
“Innovasea also has expertise, materials, equipment and relationships to provide nearly all of the support aspects of the operation. Video monitoring, feeding systems, various marine and atmospheric monitoring devices, design and technical support, IT integration capabilities and much more,” Satterlee noted, while speaking to The Fish Site.
Puckett added that the company is looking into multi-trophic production; with a mixture of finfish, seaweed and oysters, and the University of Miami will be researching species selection.
In this scenario, the mooring grid for the SeaStation pens could also host the downlines for oysters and algae. The platform structure could also serve as host for the downlines.
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: https://offsnet.com/da-gom/conference-brochure
Or contact:
Joseph Watson
Project Manager
Offshore Network Ltd.
t: +44 (0) 20 3409 5720
e:
- Region: North Sea
- Topics: Decommissioning
- Date: Feb, 2022
Global Maritime has recently completed the Marine Warranty Scope (MWS) for decommissioning the LOGGS Complex in southern North Sea.
The five platforms, linked by bridge, were removed with Saipem vessel S7000 and were supported by the North Sea Giant.
All of the jackets, topsides and bridges have been transported to Able UK, Hartlepool, where they will be dismantled and recycled.
Robert Askins, London Operations Managers, commented, “Global Maritime are delighted to achieve this significant milestone. Working collaboratively with the client to complete this complex decommissioning campaign safely and efficiently is a testament to our strong working relationship.”
- Region: Australia
- Topics: Decommissioning
- Date: Feb, 2022
Esso Australia, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Australia, has entered into a multi-year agreement with DOF Subsea to charter a Multi-Purpose Supply Vessel for the support of its decommissioning activities in Bass Strait.
Dylan Pugh, ExxonMobile Australia Chair, said that the subsidiary is committed to safely decommissioning the Bass Strait offshore facilities and over the last few years has completed around US$600mn of early decommissioning works in the strait, including removing the Seahorse and Tarwhine facilities, completing P&A activities on Blackback and Whiting wells, and making significant progress on Kingfish B and Mackerel.
“As we continue to progress these important, early decommissioning works, we are also planning for the eventual decommissioning of our facilities that are to cease production in the near future,” Pugh commented.
The DOF Subsea vessel is expected to arrive in Bass Strait in the middle of 2022 where it will support early decommissioning works on the Perch and Dolphin facilities before moving onto other topside and subsea work scopes.
Pugh added, “We continue to assess new projects in Bass Strait with the aim of extending our production of Gippsland gas into the next decade.”
“Just last year we commissioned West Barracouta, one of the largest domestic gas projects this decade. As it showed, there is still potential left in Bass Strait and we are working hard to unlock its full value so we can continue to deliver the gas Australians need.”
- Region: Gulf of Mexico
- Date: Feb, 2022
W&T Offshore, Inc., an independent oil and natural gas producer, has closed its acquisition of oil and gas producing properties in federal shallow waters in the central region of the Gulf of Mexico from privately-held ANKOR E&P Holdings Corporation and KOA Energy LP.
The assets are located in the Ship Shoal 230, South Marsh Island 27/Vermilion 191, and South Marsh Island 73 fields. After normal and customary post-effective date adjustments, cash consideration of approximately US$30.2mn was paid to the sellers using cash on hand.
The acquisition will add internally-estimated proved reserves of 5.5 million barrels of oil equivalent (Boe) (69% oil) and proved and probable, or 2P, reserves of 7.6 million Boe (75% oil).
It will add more than 50 gross producing wells (average working interest of 80%) across three shallow water fields to the company’s working interests in 41 producing fields. In such a developed field many of these assets will likely be closing in on their twilight years, presenting an opportunity for well intervention service providers to maintain their production rates and extend their life-span.
Tracy W. Krohn, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Now that we’ve closed the transaction, we’ll begin working on realising the synergies we’ve identified and maximising the value of these assets. We will continue to seek other accretive transactions that can further enhance shareholder value.”
- Region: All
- Date: Feb, 2022
Innova AS and Teledyne Energy System Inc. have demonstrated how hydrogen can be used for local power of subsea control systems.
Teledyne’s Subsea Fuel Cell Supercharger is a hydrogen and oxygen fuel cell electric power source designed to operate on the ocean floor with no connection to the surface. It is inherently load following and provides power on demand. The subsea hydraulic power unit (sHPU) developed by Innova provides control fluids, grease and chemicals for different subsea application at a pressure up to 690 bar.
The demonstration included a well intervention simulation in which the Subsea Supercharger powered the Innova sHPU. The two systems were integrated and effectively deployed to a depth of 235 metres (770 feet) where a low viscosity fluid was pumped to a pressure of 180 bar (2,600 psi) for 30 minutes, six times a day.
The Subsea Supercharger transitioned from ‘Sleep-mode’ to ‘On’ in response to power demands from the sHPU as it repeatedly cycled on and off.
The system was designed to provide the offshore oil and gas community with an environmentally responsible backup power alternative for failing umbilical power sources as well as untethered power for green field development or brown field sustainment. It is also capable of powering resident ROVs, providing energy for autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) charging docks, back-up power for subsea control systems, and supports transition to green hydrogen from fossil fueled surface-based systems.
The demonstration took place at the Norwegian Center for Offshore Education, Tau Autonomy Center in Tau, Norway. The next validation test will occur in the spring of 2022 and will incorporate the Subsea Supercharger with an AUV charging dock to demonstrate untethered, long-duration AUV operations.
- Region: West Africa
- Date: Feb, 2022
Tendeka offers its portfolio of innovative tools and technologies in sub-Saharan Africa to restore production from existing well stocks, reduce gas and water flow and improve production.
The versatile suite of solutions does not require complex interventions and has already brought huge logistical, technical and financial savings to operators in the region.
Intelligent technology
PulseEight dynamic downhole reservoir management system is the world’s first re-deployable wireless completion range. Utilising Fluid Harmonics telemetry, two-way communications to and from a suite of downhole tools can be used to optimise production:
• PulseEight Electronic Ambient Valve (EAV) reinstates wells which were previously closed through loss/lack of a safety valve
• PulseEight Wireless Gauges (WG) provides pressure and temperature data from wells which have lost permanent systems or where these were never installed
• PulseEight Intelligent Valve (ICV) delivers infinite, inline manipulation of flow for choking and shut-off purposes
In addition to PulseEight, the company’s Mature Fields offering includes retrofittable, next generation inflow control technology, to attain a uniform inflow profile for enhanced oil production in new wells or through intervention.
Tendeka also offers in-house capability to custom design a range of sealing solutions, from non-standard diameters to unique fluid parameters, ensuring a perfect fit for well projects.
These include SwellStack sealing solutions which are rated to 15,000 psi in gas, reinstating the function of safety valves quickly and effectively; Swellable O-rings to reinstate the function of safety valves quickly and effectively; and SwellRight Side Pocket Mandrel (SPM) Plugs to provide pressure integrity in damaged side pocket mandrel bores.
Following success in Chad to solve sand production issues in water injection wells, Tendeka is working with a local partner in Nigeria to deliver Casacde3 in a multi-well subsea development.
- Region: Gulf of Mexico
- Topics: Decommissioning
- Date: Feb, 2022
The US Department of the Interior has announced that US$1.15bn in funding is available to states from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to create jobs cleaning up orphaned oil and gas wells across the country.
This is a key initiative of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocated a total of US$4.7bn to create a new federal programme to address orphan wells. Millions of Americans across the country live within a mile of an orphaned oil and gas well.
The historic investments to clean up hazardous sites will create good-paying, union jobs, catalyse economic growth and revitalisation, and reduce dangerous methane leaks.
“President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is enabling us to confront the legacy pollution and long-standing environmental injustices that for too long have plagued underrepresented communities,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “We must act with urgency to address the more than one hundred thousand documented orphaned wells across the country and leave no community behind. This is good for our climate, for the health of our communities, and for American workers.”
Plugging orphaned wells will also help advance the goals of the US Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan, as well as the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization, which focuses on spurring economic revitalisation in the hard-hit energy communities.
Nearly every state with documented orphaned wells submitted a Notice of Intent (NOI) showing interest in applying for a formula grant to fund the proper closure and cleanup of orphaned wells and well sites.
The Department released the amount of funding that states are eligible to apply for in Phase One, which includes up to US$25mn in Initial Grant funding and a quarter of the total Formula Grant money available for the 26 states that submitted NOIs. These allocations were determined using the data provided by states from the NOIs and equally considers the following factors required by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
In the coming weeks, the Department will release detailed guidance for states to apply for the Initial Grants. These resources will allow state officials to begin building out their plugging programs, remediating high-priority wells, and collecting additional data regarding the number of orphaned wells in their states.
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: https://offsnet.com/da-gom/conference-brochure
Or contact:
Joseph Watson
Project Manager
Offshore Network Ltd.
t: +44 (0) 20 3409 5720
e:
- Region: North Sea
- Date: Feb, 2022
N-Sea Group has signed a long-term vessel agreement with EDT Offshore for the EDT Protea, which has a strong track record in Subsea services in both AIR diving and ROV intervention works.
With its sleek design and DP3 capability, the advanced DP-3 Multi-Purpose Offshore Support Vessel is ideal for working in close proximity to assets. This, along with a 50t AHC crane, forms the perfect platform for total subsea solutions. The vessel holds a solid track record for continuous diving operations in the North Sea for many years.
N-Sea has taken significant steps of planned growth; creating a sound and healthy environment that warrants investments, establishes strong strategic partnerships, and sets the stage for long-term client relationships.
As well as the previously announced agreement with Geo Plus for the Geo Focus, the EDT Protea is one of the six vessels that N-Sea will have under full management and control. By having long term control over vessels, it allows N-Sea to provide safer, and more efficient, operations working with fully committed and integrated teams on board. Through the N-Sea dedicated vessel initiative N-Sea offers its clients a unique set of subsea solution capabilities fully supported by N-Sea’s own experts.
“I would like to congratulate and thank EDT Offshore on this unique opportunity, as it reconfirms N-Sea’s position as one of the most diverse companies in the subsea solution industry. We are creating a community of entrepreneurship, knowledge, experience, and innovation. The EDT Protea is an important tool in achieving this goal,” said N-Sea Group CEO Arno van Poppel.
"Together with our qualified and engaged staff we look forward to creating new and exciting opportunities further exploring existing and engaging in new long-term relationships with our valued clients, delivering the best optimised subsea solutions for them."
The parties will start their joint operations under the agreement in March 2022.
- Region: All
- Topics: Decommissioning
- Date: Jan, 2022
At the COSCO Shipping Shipyard in Nantong, China. Jan De Nul Group has launched the Voltaire, a next-generation offshore jack-up installation vessel for offshore renewables and decommissioning.
This vessel will be the second and largest jack-up vessel in Jan De Nul’s fleet and is due for delivery in H2 2022. Voltaire is built to transport, lift and install offshore wind turbines, transition pieces and foundations. The main crane with a capacity of over 3,000 tonnes will enable it to construct the current and future generation of wind farms at sea. Voltaire is ready for the future of offshore renewables, and will also be available to the oil and gas industry for the decommissioning of offshore structures.
The Voltaire is a jack-up vessel fitted with a high-tech jacking system. Four giant legs of 130 metres support the vessel to achieve stable working conditions at unsurpassed water depths up to 80 metres and with an elevated load of 16,000 tonnes. Compared to Jan De Nul’s other jack-up vessel Vole au vent, this new vessel has almost double the deck space.
Innovative design
The highly innovative main crane will be fitted with a Universal Quick Connector (UQC), developed by Huisman, and leveraging the expertise of Jan De Nul’s operational and engineering teams. The result is a innovative UQC, that will deliver a major step change in safer offshore lifting activities.
In common with Les Alizés, the Voltaire is equipped with a highly advanced dual exhaust filter system, removing up to 99% of nanoparticles from emissions using a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and reducing the NOx emissions and other pollutants by means of a selective catalytic reduction system (SCR) to levels in accordance with EU Stage V regulation. Together, these vessels will be the first two seaworthy installation vessels in the world with an extremely low carbon footprint.
- Region: All
- Topics: Decommissioning
- Date: Jan, 2022
James Fisher, a leading provider of innovative marine solutions and specialised engineering services, has launched a new business line named James Fisher Decommissioning (JF Decom), which will support the decommissioning needs of customers in the renewables and oil and gas markets by delivering considerable cost and time saving solutions.
JF Decom will provide customers with access to a dedicated, multi-disciplined team that reduces the number of contractual interfaces, to provide an end-to-end service delivery capability in complex decommissioning scopes including: subsea infrastructure removal; structural removal, well severance, and well abandonment.
With one of the world’s largest fleets of decommissioning tooling and in-house design and engineering capability, JF Decom will be able to support the rise in decommissioning projects worldwide to deliver considerable cost and time saving solutions.
Jack Davidson, Managing Director at JF Decom commented, “Increasing demand for experienced decommissioning experts within the energy industry presents an opportunity for the group to focus on what it does best - providing tailored and pioneering solutions to address customer challenges.
“In addition to the challenges faced by customers to conduct decommissioning activities as timely and cost effectively as possible, JF Decom is also dedicated to ensuring that decommissioning is conducted as sustainably as possible by restoring the seabed to its natural state.”
In building its highly skilled team, JF Decom has utilised the extensive expertise of James Fisher Offshore, which has assisted operators in the installation and maintenance of oil and gas platforms - many of which will be decommissioned as the industry adapts to the energy transition. The in-depth knowledge of the differences between these platforms, allows JF Decom to deploy the most appropriate methodology and technology to optimise the delivery of a decommissioning project.
JF Decom’s services also include the innovative well abandonment tool SEABASS, a strategic investment made in 2021, that provides a more cost effective and quicker alternative to rig-based solutions when abandoning category 2 wells, due to its ability to deploy from a vessel of opportunity and work in any water depth.
Davidson added, “With our noise attenuation tools such as Bubble Curtains we can also minimise environmental impact to marine life during decommissioning works and ensuring we provide environmentally responsible services is something that is at the forefront for JF Decom.”
- Region: Gulf of Mexico
- Date: Jan, 2022
As it approaches the five-year anniversary of its first contract with PRT Offshore, Interventek Subsea Engineering has announced that it is shipping out their latest Revolution in-riser safety valve order.
This is for a new 4-1/8” 10,000psi, shear-seal valve, designed for slimline well access with an outer diameter of 15-1/8.
The slimline Revolution valve is the first of its kind and reflects a growing need for technology which is easily scalable to suit the individual challenges of different subsea intervention projects. Like all Interventek’s products, it has undergone extensive testing and meets the latest API 17G industry standards.
The valve will be used for intervention operations in the Gulf of Mexico in more than 2,450 m (8,000 ft) depth of water with an integral intervention arrangement, using a surface BOP for well control with direct vertical well access to the wet xmas trees below. The Interventek slimline valve will be used in conjunction with this arrangement to enable safe and efficient well access.
PRT Offshore already have an impressive fleet of eight additional Interventek Revolution valves in service, which have built up an extensive track record of deployments in the GOM over the last few years.
- Region: Middle East
- Topics: Integrity
- Date: Jan, 2022
Ashtead Technology, an international subsea rental equipment and solutions specialist, has signed a multi-year agreement with Norway-based NORBIT Subsea, a provider of tailored and innovative technology solutions to the global maritime sector, to serve as its exclusive reseller throughout the Middle East.
NORBIT Subsea specialises in the design and development of high resolution wideband multibeam sonars for hydrographic applications, forward-looking applications and advanced subsea leakage detection. Based on the latest in analogue and digital signal processing, their products provide wide coverage monitoring combined with high sensitivity and accuracy.
David Mair, Ashtead Technology’s Business Development Director, commented, “We are delighted to partner with NORBIT Subsea for the exclusive sale of their multibeam sonar survey systems across the Middle East. These systems are industry-renowned for their exceptional performance, innovation and reliability and are in high demand with our customers.
“The Middle East is a key growth market for Ashtead Technology and we are excited to be able to broaden our product and service offering in the region and accelerate our international growth strategy.”
John Fraser, Director of NORBIT UK, added, “This exclusive agreement reinforces our commitment to the Middle East region and our plans for growth. We know Ashtead Technology very well and are delighted to be working together to continue building momentum for our products in the region.”
Ashtead Technology has also invested in NORBIT Subsea’s ultra-compact wideband multibeam sonars which offer high resolution bathymetry over a wide swath. These products are now available to rent throughout the company’s nine international technology and service hubs.
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