To help TotalEnergies – an oil and gas company – with a deepwater plug and abandonment (P&A) challenge offshore in the Brazilian pre-salt, Welltec, an international provider of robotic well solutions for the oil and gas industry, designed and manufactured a unique solution utilising a 414 Well Cutter equipped with a new Tiger Claw cutting element.
The well had been designed without a completion disconnect device, adding difficulty to the overall series and increasing the timeframe, if additional intervention and fishing was required.
To maintain optimal efficiency, a tool capable of cutting beyond the outer diameter of the 6 5/8 inches super 13Cr tubing and through the control line flatpack (with two Incoloy tubes) would be required. Furthermore, it was crucial that this be achieved in a single run.
P&A is a necessary operation at the end of a well’s productive years. Efficiency is vital during preparation and execution phases in order for operators to minimise costs, especially given the asset will be decommissioned and no longer producing.
Prior to the operation, multiple tests were carried out at the headquarters and subsequently at a local base in Brazil. These were done to ensure that a clean cut could be achieved all the way through to the flatpack in scenarios involving different cutting locations, in consideration of margins of error, as well as levels of slack or tension on the flatpack which would affect the cut.
Test cut locations included just below the clamp (15 cm), within the tubing connection (to see if the additional material could be cut), and in the middle of two clamps where it was anticipated the control line may be too slack.
Despite successful test cuts just below the clamp, and within the tubing connection, the client opted for a middle of the tubing cut. A 414 Well Cutter was run in hole with specially designed Tiger Claw cutting element and activated six meters below the clamp.
As an additional precaution, a physical limitation was implemented to restrict the cutting range of the Tiger Claw to 8.2 inches, therefore de-risking the operation in terms of the 8.5 inches outer casing being compromised. The angled cutting arms were able to cut through the tubing and control line flatpack as predicted.
After pulling out of hole, the operator was able to pull the completion, seeing the control line flatpack shear six meters below the clamp. As a result of this operation, TotalEnergies was able to save time with tubing retrieval, avoiding the delays that would have followed a cut to only the tubing.
The newly designed Tiger Claw cutting element provided an increased cutting range in comparison to its predecessors, guaranteeing a continuation of cutting beyond the outer diameter of the tubing, and through the control line flatpack.
DOF Subsea has attained a 99% rate for the combined recycling and repurposing of recovered materials on its decommissioning project for Repsol Sinopec Resources UK.
The company provides engineering, preparation, removal and disposal (EPRD) services at the Buchan and Hannay fields in the Central North Sea.
The offshore works were carried out for over 74 days, using Skandi Acergy and Skandi Skansen, and saw the recovery of 135 concrete mattresses weighing approximately 800 tonnes, more than 12km of rigid pipelines, SSIV/PLEM Structures, 15.5km of flexibles and umbilicals, spoolpieces, and around 1,500 grout bags and general debris.
The material was shipped to Aberdeen Harbour’s Clipper Quay for dispersal, with the recovered material dispatched for a wide variety of uses. A total of 15 concrete mattresses were repurposed into aggregate for use in the roads at the £350mn Aberdeen Harbour extension project. The plastic sheaths from the flexible risers and umbilicals were recycled by an approved supplier and all metal was smelted.
This was the second decommissioning project carried out by DOF Subsea on behalf of Repsol Sinopec in the Buchan and Hannay fields. In 2019, they carried out EPRD services, including the 124 tonne Mid-Water Arch (MWA) – one of the largest structures ever decommissioned through Aberdeen Harbour.
DOF Subsea has built a decommissioning portfolio over the last decade, delivering more than 30 projects around the world for major operators.
In a unique case study, Thunder Cranes has explained how it provided lifting support for coiled tubing operations in offshore Dubai, UAE, with cranes designed for portable use and ease of assembly & disassembly on offshore installations.
During planning for the coiled tubing operations it was determined that there was insufficient space to accommodate all of the coiled tubing equipment on the platform deck that was located directly over the wells identified for intervention.
As a result Thunder Cranes needed to make use of an adjacent platform, located 50 feet away, and so the company designed a lifting plan using two cranes and both platforms to carry out the lifting support required for the project.
For the purposes of the case study, they were named "Platform A" and "Platform B" and the company provided a summary of the steps carried out:
• Using the existing platform jib crane Thunder Cranes lifted the component parts of the 20 ton crane (TC20) from supply vessel to Platform A.
• Once TC20 was rigged up and load tested it then lifted the component parts of the 90 ton crane (TC90) from supply vessel to Platform A.
• After the TC90 was rigged up it rigged down the TC20 and lifted all of the TC20 components from Platform A to Platform B.
• TC20 was then rigged up on Platform B.
• TC90 was able to pick up the coiled tubing reel, with a long enough boom to be able to hook to the coiled tubing pipe and pull it over from one platform to another to be run through the injector.
• Over on platform A, working in tandem with the TC90, the TC20 lifted, rigged up, and helped support the coiled tubing injector.
In the case, the company rigged up and load tested two days within seven days thank to the TC clamping method, the modular design of the cranes, and the highly experienced staff.
In the project, TC20 and TC90 cranes enabled the coiled tubing work to begin ahead of schedule and was a safe & cost effective solution compared to alternative methods.
IKM Testing UK, an independent integrated solutions provider, has been awarded a multi-year contract to deliver well integrity services across bp’s portfolio of North Sea assets.
The agreement – the first well services contract between the companies – comprises well integrity remediation services, which includes sustained casing pressure mitigation (SCP).
SCP is excessive pressure in any well annulus that requires regular bleed down and often can be managed during normal offshore operations, depending on the severity. It also requires remediation during P&A operations if not addressed during the normal well lifecycle.
This new contract looks to address the issue of SCP in a more permanent manner, reducing the requirement for continual management. Under the contract IKM will provide engineering, determination of applicable chemistry/methodology, and deployment of equipment and personnel offshore.
Work to remediate sustained casing pressure using a bespoke resin capable of being placed via gravity feed is expected to commence in 2022.
Mark Rasmusen, Director of International Division at IKM Testing commented, “This is an exciting award and provides the springboard for us to further grow and develop our well services offering.
“Sustained casing pressure can generally be managed offshore, however bp is looking for a solution that doesn’t require continual management by offshore personnel which not only reduces risk but also saves significant time and costs. We were selected as we provide an independent perspective and have the capabilities to carry out the full suite of engineering services from cradle to grave.
“We look forward to helping bp achieve its well integrity goals by determining and executing innovative and cutting-edge solutions.”
The contract also has future provision for supporting bp’s international assets with similar workscopes.
HydraWell, a well solutions provider based in Norway, has recently introduced its innovative downhole tooling solution ‘HydraTyphon’, to deliver improved reliability in difficult environments.
According to HydraWell, the solution combines the benefits of jet and cup-based washing and cementing systems, and has been designed to improve the efficiency of the downhole hydraulic activity over any other system available. The combined advantage of these two systems is said to reduce perforating and operating costs as well as minimise environmental impact.
Tom Leeson, Chief Commercial Officer at HydraWell said, "Our experienced team is focused on developing ingenious technologies to transform well operations around the world. We are always looking for ways to push the boundaries and HydraTyphon hits the mark for new advancements in downhole tooling techniques. HydraTyphon offers a wide range of benefits, not least providing our clients with the chance to reduce their environmental footprint whilst transforming their well operations.”
Back in 2008, HydraWell designed, developed, tested and patented a system portfolio for wellbore applications known industry-wide as Perforation, Wash and Cement (PWC). The company says its PWC technology has the potential to slash the operational sequence by up to six days when compared to the conventional section milling alternative. The increased efficiency benefits help to reduce environmental impact as well as the potential to reduce operating costs by up to millions of dollars in estimation.
HydraTyphon is an evolution of PWC delivering improved reliability for challenging well characteristics including high cement content in annuli, shallow barrier depth and large annuli.
Mark Sorheim, CEO at HydraWell commented, “We pride ourselves on being true innovators – our forward-thinking team continually develop our range of systems in response to bespoke customer requirements to support industry challenges. Furthermore, HydraWell regards sustainability as one of its top priorities as we strive for efficiency gains and proactively lower the risk of long-term environmental damage by exploring and developing solutions to support our clients’ environmental savings.”
Helix Energy Solutions Group, a leading provider of offshore energy services, has entered into a new multi-year contract with Shell Offshore to provide well intervention services in the Gulf of Mexico.
The three-year contract, commencing in March 2022, includes an anticipated 75 days utilisation per year with the option to add additional utilisation days.
Helix will provide either the Q4000 or Q5000 riser-based semi-submersible well intervention vessel, a 10k or a 15k Intervention Riser System (IRS), remotely operated vehicles, project management and engineering services to cover operations from fully integrated well intervention to fully integrated plug and abandonment well services.
The Q4000 and Q5000 well intervention vessels provide an optimal platform for a wide variety of tasks, including subsea well intervention, field and well decommissioning, installation and recovery of subsea equipment, well testing and emergency well containment.
Scotty Sparks, Helix’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, commented, “Shell continues to be a valued customer of Helix. We appreciate their continued confidence in our fully integrated well intervention services, our commitment to safety and cost-effective and efficient solutions. We are confident in the efficiencies and value we bring to our customers, and this contract further signals the increasing demand for our services.”
Petrofac, a leading provider of services to the global energy industry, has received a major decommissioning contract by the Australian Government, which has kickstarted decommissioning services in the country’s offshore oil and gas sector.
The contract, awarded by the Federal Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, follows a strict selection and due diligence process by the Government of Australia. The value to Petrofac of Phase 1 has the potential to be up to AUD$325mn (US$236mn).
Petrofac’s Australia team based in Perth, has been contracted to complete Phase 1 of the decommissioning of the Northern Endeavour FPSO (Floating Production, Storage and Offtake) facility.
The contract sees Petrofac as Outsourced Operator responsible for decommissioning and disconnection of the FPSO from its subsea equipment, and temporarily suspending the wells. Disconnection of the FPSO is likely to occur over the period of 18 months. Petrofac’s scope includes the provision of its unique integrated services, working with both local and global suppliers.
The Northern Endeavour is a 274-metre long FPSO facility, currently not producing oil, moored between the Laminaria and Corallina oil fields about 550 kilometres northwest of Darwin in the Timor Sea.
Speaking about the company’s long-term ambitions in the country, Josie Philips, Petrofac’s Regional Director, Australia, said, "This contract builds on 15 years of working in Australia and is further proof of our growing ambitions. A critical element will be upskilling the local workforce to meet the challenges of billions of dollars of decommissioning work in Australia now and in the future. It is Petrofac’s aim to be a local company, growing local jobs, local skills and the local supply chain. I’m delighted that we have Monadelphous and Linch-pin already on board."
Nick Shorten, Chief Operating Officer for Petrofac’s Asset Solutions business, said, “This contract recognises our unmatched decommissioning credentials, as the only tier one contractor with the in-house capability to manage all well and asset decommissioning phases. The contract builds on our existing track record for delivering well operator and project management services for clients globally.”
Together Petrofac and its supply chain partners, including Monadelphous and Linch-pin, will ensure the safe and cost-effective removal of the FPSO from the field in accordance with good industry practice. All activities will be done in close consultation with the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) to ensure strict safety and environmental protections.
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:
ROCSOLE has received an Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) 'Spotlight on New Technology award' for its Intelligent Level Detection & Data Analytics for Sand Management.
In oil and gas facilities, sand production is an unwanted element. Robust and reliable sensors are critical for automated sand management systems to secure the proper functionality and avoid unexpected shutdowns or reduced production rate.
ROCSOLE utilises leading-edge tomographic technology, its Separator Profiler is a real-time non-radioactive monitoring solution that physically sees and measures separator's emulsion layer, improving separation efficiency by optimising residence time and resulting in higher quality output downstream.
“We are honored by this recognition. Innovation is not just a one-day job; this shows that the community appreciates the continuity of our innovative work shaping the future of energy and process control,” said Mika Tienhaara, Chief Executive Officer of ROCSOLE.
This is ROCSOLE’s third OTC Houston Spotlight award with the company first being recognised in 2020 for its Liquid In-Tank Inspection (LITI) product. This was swiftly followed, in 2021, with the prestigious award being bestowed on the company yet again, this time for its Deposition In-Line Inspection (DILI) system. It is the first Finnish company that has ever won the award
“Being rewarded the Spotlight on New Technology award three times in a row is a huge recognition for our technology. Being able to detect waste streams, deposits and solids build-up in real-time is providing considerable benefits for our customers to improve their efficiencies and ESG measures,” said Arto Voutilainen, Chief Technology Officer of ROCSOLE.
PanGeo Subsea, a subsidiary of Kraken Robotics, has been awarded a US$5mn contract by Couvillion Group for assistance with a decommissioning project in the Gulf of Mexico.
In 2004, a storm induced mudslide caused an offshore jacket to topple which has since been lying on the seafloor 150 metres down, with subsea conductors buried in around 60 metres of mud. PanGeo will use Acoustic Corer, its high-resolution sub-seabed imaging technology, to identify where the conductors are located in the debris field to provide valuable information for the plugging and abandonment of the well.
The campaign will start in Q2 2022 and will last for 90 days – representing the largest Acoustic Corer project undertaken by the company to date.
Moya Cahill, PanGeo’s CEO, said, “The Acoustic Corer delivers a unique solution to the industry that has been tried and proven by the Couvillion Group in a demonstration project in 2019. We are truly excited to return to this site and work with the Couvillion team to complete a full site investigation of the debris field.
Couvillion Group’s CEO, Timmy Couvillion, added, “We believe that PanGeo has the key to unlock the unknowns below the seafloor that will ultimately enable a successful plug and abandonment of the well.”
In addition to the debris survey, PanGeo has been issued a letter of intent for a multi-million Acoustic Corer campaign of 50 days for an offshore wind farm in the Baltic where it will be imaging boulders in the sub-seabed.
Expro, an energy services provider headquartered in Houston, TX USA, was recognised with ‘Spotlight on New Technology Award’ at the 2022 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston for its Autonomous Well Intervention System - Galea.
This award highlights the latest and most innovative global technologies that are advancing and revolutionising the future of the energy industry. Galea was selected based on its autonomous technology and significant environmental, cost, and HSE impact beyond existing technologies.
According to Expro, Galea is the world’s first fully autonomous well intervention system that maximises production while reducing intervention costs, HSE risks, and the carbon footprint of operations. The system replaces larger, conventional, and more labour-intensive wireline rig-ups for a range of routine slickline operations. Galea can be configured in a variety of operating modes ranging from fully autonomous to manual to suit a range of applications on and offshore.
Galea deploys a tool string into the well either at regular intervals or as defined by the well conditions in fully autonomous mode. The system performs a pre-programmed intervention sequence in semi-autonomous mode, initiated locally or remotely. When in manual mode, quick rig-up intervention compared to conventional operations is enabled.
The system also reduces the impact of operations on the environment around the well site. A small self-contained intervention package located at the well site all year-round eliminates the need for repetitive environmentally disruptive wireline unit or truck operations required for traditional approaches.
Galea also features several fail-safe capabilities to ensure containment and elimination of potential wire breaks during interventions.
Expro’s Well Intervention and Integrity Vice President Max Tseplic said, “This prestigious award from our industry recognises not only one technology, but also Expro’s wider commitment to delivering cost-effective, innovative technologies and solutions, and what we consider to be best-in-class safety and service quality performance, as part of creating a more sustainable business and a lower carbon future.”
Expro North and Latin America Region Vice-President Toby Pitre added, “Enhancing our technology development remains a key focus for Expro. With a wide breadth of capabilities and expertise across the entire well lifecycle, we are fully focused on meeting changing industry demands.”
Xodus, a global energy consultancy, has been awarded the Rigid Pipeline Non-Metallic Component Characterisation study for National Energy Resources Australia's (NERA) National Decommissioning Research Initiative (NDRI).
Alasdair Gray, Late Life and Decommissioning Lead at Xodus, made the announcement on LinkedIn, commenting, “Understanding of the chemicals used within non-steel components of rigid pipelines is one of the most significant knowledge gaps for the Australian oil and gas industry. This information is critical to understanding the long term impact of structure degradation within the marine environment, to improve the accuracy of decommissioning plan development and subsequent Environment Plan submissions.
“Xodus are well placed to undertake this work through our world class, integrated Engineering and Environment offering, working with Andrew Taylor and Jason Christie to deliver this scope which focuses on pipeline coating characterisation. This study is an important step in addressing how the region will make future decisions about assets reaching end of life.”
Gray added that the company has already started work on the project which is expected to be completed mid-2022.
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:
Woodside Energy Limited has awarded DOF Subsea Australia retrieval of Enfield XT and offshore support services.
The campaign will involve the recovery of 18 subsea XTrees, 18 flowbases and associated spool sections, one wellhead severance and recovery of up to 18 temporary guide bases at the Enfield Field, Australia. The contract includes project management, engineering, fabrication, and decommissioning services and is expected to be undertaken in Q3 and Q4 2022, using DOF Subsea’s MPSV Skandi Hercules.
Mons Aase, CEO of DOF Subsea AS, said this is a substantial contract award. "It builds on successful campaigns delivered in the past for our client and grows our decommissioning track-record in the APAC (Asia-Pacific) region. We look forward to working with Woodside Energy Limited to deliver a safe and efficient project."
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:
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