In its latest operations update, British independent upstream oil and gas company, Serica Energy, announced that its investment plans for the Bruce and Keith Light Well Intervention Vessel (LWIV) campaign is on track to take place between March and May 2024.
This follows previous campaigns in 2022 and 2023, which have delivered low-cost incremental production. The intervention is expected to restart production from the Keith field this year following successful preparation work on the Keith subsea facilities carried out in 2023. Additional well interventions from the Bruce platform are scheduled for the second half of 2024.
Besides well work on the Bruce and Keith fields, investments in 2024 include four wells in the Triton area (Bittern B1z sidetrack, Gannet E GE-05, Guillemot North West EC1 and Evelyn EV-02). The start date of the B1z sidetrack is set in March 2024. This well and the subsequent three wells are scheduled to take about three months each, meaning that drilling will continue into 2025. Serica has also exercised an option to keep the rig for a further well following completion of the fourth well in the programme (EV-02).
Serica is maturing plans for two infill wells on the Bruce field too with the aim of drilling in 2026.
Abandonment costs in 2024 are forecast to be about £14 million (pre-tax) net to Serica. These will be incurred mainly on the final decommissioning of the Arthur field, situated in the UK Southern North Sea, which was held by Tailwind Energy.
Reflecting on Serica's investment focus on enabling maximum production like from the Bruce and Triton assets, Mitch Flegg, Chief Executive of the company, said, "Production in 2024 is expected to be higher than in 2023 with guidance between 41,000 boe/d and 48,000 boe/d for the year. This reflects a range of outcomes in a year of significant activity including the speed with which the scheduled drilling and well work deliver incremental production.
"Serica's strategy of investing in its assets continues to be central to our record of consistently achieving high levels of reserves replacement, combined with increased levels of production. We are looking forward, therefore, to the start of the four well Triton area drilling programme in March, with the benefits of added production expected to start coming through in the second half of the year. During 2024 there is also an extensive programme of interventions in both platform and subsea wells on the Bruce and Keith fields. The objectives include re-establishing consistent production from the Keith field.
"In addition, Serica has a healthy portfolio of potential new projects. This includes the possible developments of the Buchan and Belinda fields, which offer the prospect of further replacement of produced reserves and incremental production from 2026 onwards. Our plans for drilling two Bruce infill wells, the first new wells on the field since 2012, are progressing and, during the next eighteen months, we will be participating in the Parkmead operated Skerryvore exploration well situated in the UK Central North Sea. As a UK taxpayer, Serica will benefit from tax relief for its share of the associated development and exploration costs.
"Serica is extremely well placed, therefore, to continue its track record of replacing reserves and increasing production. This platform has been achieved while maintaining a very strong balance sheet, which is both the result and enabler of our strategy to invest and grow organically and through disciplined M&A."
Shell UK Ltd has signed a contract with Mermaid Subsea Services Ltd to utilise the offshore company's services for a multi-year engineering, preparation, removal and disposal (EPRD) well head severance (WHS) project in the North Sea.
Planned in three annual batches, the first phase of the decommissioning project is scheduled to begin later this year. The WHS solution will be delivered by a bespoke vessel for which Mermaid will be accumulating key stakeholders accross the supply chain.
The initial campaign will involve the removal of well head protection covers from the sea floor, before lifting them to the surface for transportation onshore.
The well head flow base structures will then be retrieved using specialist tooling.
The final activity will cover well head severance and recovery operations, for which bespoke underwater cutting tooling and techniques will be deployed by Mermaid.
Each stage of the project will be followed by clearance of debris, as well as seabed and over trawl surveys where necessary. All the recovered materials from the project will be put to reuse and recycling.
Scott Cormack, Regional Director for Mermaid Subsea Services (UK), said, “This a milestone contract for Mermaid and we are very grateful to Shell for putting their faith in our team. We look forward to kicking off work this year.
“The North Sea is on the cusp of a multi-decade decommissioning boom and Mermaid plans to be front and centre of that with our bespoke solutions and leading expertise.”
DeepOcean, an ocean services provider that is dedicated to enabling the energy transition and sustainable use of ocean resources, has been awarded a significant recycling project on the UK continental shelf.
Provided by an unnamed international operation, the contract will see DeepOcean oversee project management and engineering operations for a comprehensive campaign that will span more than 120 days. With offshore decommissioning activities scheduled this year, the project is segmented into five sub-campaigns including the recovery of concrete mattresses, spools, flexibles, flowlines, jumpers, suction anchor, multiple structures and final debris clearance with the addition of a subsea rock installation campaign to conduct final seabed remediation.
Gary Scott, UK Commercial Manager & Legal Counsel at DeepOcean, commented, “We are delighted to have been selected to perform this decommissioning project and this contract award reflects our team's proficiency in executing complex subsea projects with a focus on safety, environmental responsibility, and efficiency.”
To execute the workscope, DeepOcean has stated that it will employ its advanced fleet including the Edda Freya, a state-of-the-art vessel suited for operations worldwide. The ship will utilise its 2,300 sq m of deck space and 400Te AHC crane, with two moonpool launched 220 HP Kysdesign WROVs. The Normand Jarstein will also be deployed.
As outlined by DeepOcean, upon successful recovery, all items will be transported and offloaded onshore for appropriate reuse, recycling, or disposal, adhering to stringent environmental regulations. Through close collaboration with DeepOcean’s selected waste management contractor, reuse options for all concrete mattresses will be sought, demonstrating our commitment to the environment and needs of our client with a continued focus to maximise re-use for all recovered materials.
Aberdeen-based Odfjell Technology Ltd has solidified is plug and abandonment (P&A) and slot recovery range with a £3mn-acquisition of McGarian TDC Ltd.
This acquisition will advance Odfjell’s Well Services division, and add to the company's 20 years of experience in designing whipstocks, casing and packer milling, fishing and remedial products.
Representing as much as 45% of an asset’s decommissioning costs, the P&A market is at a dynamic stage right now.
Odfjell Technology boasts of a completely integrated service for P&A campaigns using innovative operational models for the challenges of different well constructions, varying downhole geologies and adjacent infrastructure.
Odfjell Technology AS CEO Simen Lieungh said, “We are delighted to welcome McGarian TDC Ltd to the Odfjell Technology family. Their engineering and product design capability perfectly complements our existing competencies.
“P&A represents a significant investment for our customers involved in of end-of-life operations. Our aim has always been to provide an efficient service with a focus on safety and environmental security – this strategic acquisition enables us to further strengthen that commitment to our customers.”
Bruce McGarian, Owner of McGarian TDC Ltd, added, “Joining forces with Odfjell Technology presents an exciting opportunity for us to leverage our expertise on a larger scale.”
An integrated service provider from Aberdeenshire, AquaTerra Group has announced four decommissioning contract wins that add up to a seven-figure sum.
The last year has marked several firsts for the Group, including the first time that the company was subcontracted by Dutch offshore contractor, Allseas. Under the contract, AquaTerra supported an EPRD project on Enquest’s Heather Alpha platform. It provided engineering, fabrication, access, and construction teams to complete underdeck preparation scopes for topside removal.
Also for Allseas, AquaTerra removed underdeck obstructions in preparation for the topside removal of TAQA’s Cormorant Alpha platform. This was followed by a subcontract from Wood, which involved further work on the same platform.
By utilising its lifting and rigging equipment and services, including its modular suspended access platform QuikDeck, AquaTerra also won its first decommissioning contract with another operator to support conductor decommissioning.
Stephen Taylor, Managing Director of AquaTerra Group, said, “The team and I are delighted that we were selected by Allseas through what was a competitive tendering process for the Enquest and TAQA projects. This is also the first time that we have worked with Wood in several years, so it is great to be supporting them again.
“We’re tendering for more big projects than we’ve ever tendered for before in decommissioning, and this is already paving the way for us achieving our target of £14 million turnover in 2024.”
The Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) has called for innovations in rigless plug and abandonment.
This has been made in partnership with the 'Go Radical P&A' project, a venture by Energy Transition Norway, Danish Offshore Technology Centre, Centre of Decommissioning Australia and the Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada.
A cost-efficient and environmentally sensitive option for well decommissioning, new innovations in rigless plug and abandonment is considered one of the best way to meet regulatory requirements. They will also help address technical challenges such as accessing the wellbore without a drilling rig.
This comes as part of NZTC’s Well Decommissioning Collaboration initiative, which is actively supported by the Technology Leadership Board, North Sea Transition Authority, and Offshore Energies UK. The initiative aims to trial and test new technologies in multi-operator collaboration field trials, enabling faster, lower-cost trials and wider industry adoption in the UK and beyond, aligning with UKCS cost and emission reduction targets.
Selected participants will get to interact with a consortium that includes Harbour Energy, ConocoPhillips, Respol, TotalEnergies and Petrobras, with potential for support in developing, trialling and testing technologies. They will get exposure at similar operator consortiums in Norway, Denmark, Australia and Canada as well.
Lewis Harper, Project Manager for NZTC’s Well Decommissioning Collaboration, “Our Wells Decommissioning Collaboration initiative highlights how joint innovation is crucial for advancing technologies needed for affordable and sustainable well decommissioning, supporting the industry in reaching its net zero targets. It’s an exciting chance for emerging developers to join in, gain exposure, and potentially receive support to propel their technology development.”
UK Government Minister for Scotland Donald Cameron said, “This is a fantastic initiative that aims to deliver innovative and affordable solutions through information sharing and trials to help secure the future prosperity of the energy sector while helping to achieve our net zero goals. I encourage those working with this technology to find out more.
“The UK Government is investing £90 million in the Net Zero Technology Centre and more than £3 billion to level up right across Scotland.”
The deadline for applications is 23:59 on 31 May.
The UK-based decommissioning specialist Decom Engineering's intellectual property (IP) has passed a 'strength test' following an intellectual asset review of its pipeline cutting saw technology and Pipe Coating Removal (PCR) tools by global IP experts Inngot.
Decom's C1 range of chop saws has served major hydrocarbon producing regions, and its PCR machine is known for its sustainable and cost-saving credentials as they are capable of safely removing protective coatings from pipes for them to be repurposed in construction and other projects.
To protect its market advantage, Decom commissioned Inngot to report on the strengths of its IP as it ramps up protection in US, Canadian and European markets and in other key regions where its technology has been used, including Australia, Thailand, Malaysia and Brunei.
The report commissioned to Inngot on the strengths of Decom's IP read, “Decom Engineering has developed safe and effective pipeline cutting equipment for the decommissioning and maintenance of oil and gas pipelines and installations. The patent describes a cutting apparatus designed for versatile, efficient cutting of various materials both above and below sea level, which is useful in decommissioning industries.
“Cleanly cutting through 2" to 46” pipes, the C1 Chopsaw is a single-blade, cold-cutting saw that can be deployed and operated within the harshest working conditions, both onshore and subsea. It is fully certified to 2000m water depth, is customisable, and has blade reverse and hot stab integration capabilities.
“The patents focus on an adaptable, efficient cutting apparatus. The unique features, like multiple cuts per blade, fast cut times, and the use of water cooling systems for surface cutting, demonstrate the practical application of the patented technology, enhancing their marketability and potential for generating cash flows.”
Nick McNally, Decom Engineering Commercial Director, said that the company prioritises strengthening patent protection as an important step to gain an edge over competitors in diverse international markets.
He said, “We know our technology is market leading and of high value so it makes sense to put in place all the necessary protections to ensure we can make the most of the growth opportunities which present themselves.
“When a patent is granted, it prevents a third party from legally manufacturing, importing into, exporting out of, storing or using a patent-protected product in the territory where the patent is granted and valid.
“Working closely with Inngot, we have established the commercial value of our technologies and this has underlined the need to take a rigorous approach if we feel our designs and decades-long expertise is being compromised.”
An analysis by Inngot of Decom’s PCR machine technology, reads, “The patent outlines a comprehensive solution for the efficient removal of protective coatings from pipes. It addresses problems associated with existing methods, such as labour intensiveness, high costs, and environmental risks due to the release of toxic chemicals.
“The invention features a versatile tool carriage that supports various removal tools, including scrapers, sanders, and wire brushes. This adaptability allows for effective coating removal while maintaining energy efficiency. The apparatus is designed to ensure the structural integrity of the pipes, promoting their reuse and minimising environmental impact.
“This system's technological advancements, demonstrated by its ability to remove multiple coating types with 100% waste capture and converting pipes into usable products, make it a practical application of the patent. There is a direct relationship with the product, which has unique features that cater to a specific need in the market. This indicates a clear plan to use the patent to generate cash flows.”
The report also researched existing patents which have been lodged by potential competitors, adding, “The patent analysis was extended to examine the patenting activities of other entities in the same technological sectors so that the company’s position in the broader industry landscape can be assessed. This provides a holistic view that gives a deeper understanding of the company's innovation strategy and its financial implications, as well as identifying both potential competitors and potential acquirers of the IP.”
“The strength of our patented technology is underlined by the number of international projects we are currently engaged on and a strong pipeline of future work on the horizon and into 2025,” said McNally.
Exploration and production company Energean will be taking control of the decommissioning of Tors and Wenlock fields in the Southern UK North Sea, which are now at the end of their economic production capability
As part of the project the company has put together a specialist team, including Andrew Shepherd as UK Decommissioning Manager to carry out the approved work plan.
Waldorf Production, who operated the two fields, has officially passed the baton to Energean who is also a majority owner in the fields, with 68% ownership of Tors and 80% of Wenlock. The company had acquired the stakes in 2020 from Edison Exploration & Production SpA.
Tors and Wenlock reached the end of production in 2020 and 2022 respectively.
The MV Patriot has become the latest addition to the Rovco specialist fleet, joining the company’s existing two site characterisation vessels.
The leading provider of tech-powered offshore wind solutions that is valued at nearly UK£200mn, has chartered the new vessel as part of its mission to accelerate the offshore energy industries clean energy transition through deep-technology solutions. It is committed to combining AI, robotics and simultaneous location and mapping (SLAM) technologies. This motivation is being driven by the growth of the offshore wind sector as well as the ever-expanding decommissioning needs of the oil and gas industry.
The 74 m MV Patriot is expected to scale-up the company’s subsea capabilities. It boasts an active heave crane and 682 sq m deck capacity to support Rovco’s construction and maintenance expertise. At the same time, it also consolidates the company’s site clearance ability, including debris and boulder removal and unexploded ordinance navigation.
The vessel’s DP2 station keeping capability will reportedly provide a stable platform for launch and recovery in marginal weather, allowing Reovco to schedule wider working windows across surveys and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) inspection. Indeed, the MV Patriot will be permanently installed with best-in-class ROVs while the WROV on-board will be fitted with SubSLAM technology to enable live inspections and precise 3D reconstructions. Full site data capture offshore will be enabled by the MV Patriot and this, in tandem with ship-to-shore communications will facilitate real-time decision making.
“We’re delighted to be adding the highly versatile and capable MV Patriot to our fleet,” commented Director of O&M Marc Coull. “This provides a further platform for our leading technology in areas such as visual pilot assist, autonomous general visual inspection, as well as ensuring that auto-eventing and reporting can be utilised more widely.”
The vessel will be delivered to Rovco for a period of three years with the option to extend by a further two.
Well integrity solutions provider Unity has onboarded Ian Retalic as the new Wells Manager, as part of the company's robust 2024 growth plan.
In his new role, Retalic will be tackling senior client relations and international growth, looking into strategies to expand the reach of Unity's well integrity, intervention and plug and abandonment solutions to a global scale.
Untill now, Retalic has been associated with Altus Intervention as the Business Development Manager for eight years, where he served the company’s global provision of well intervention and technology services. His 35 years of experience include strong technical, commercial and leadership skills that are the results of an impressive line-up of positions as Senior Well Services Supervisor for the Brent Field at Shell; Senior Well Operations Engineer and Wells Project Manager for Baker Hughes; Drilling Supervisor and board level Director of Business Development, Marketing and Sales at Leading Edge Advantage and Global Product Line Manager at Lloyd’s Register.
Retalic said, “Unity has positioned itself as a leader in its field with a valuable and unique industry offering. I’m excited to be playing my part in its ambitious growth plans and to be helping operators to benefit from the company’s progressive well integrity, intervention and decommissioning solutions.”
Welcoming the new team member, Stuart Slater, Technical Sales Director at Unity, said, “Ian’s senior level expertise is a great asset and his industry knowledge and practical approach are already proving to be an excellent synergy. I’m sure he will hit the ground running and I’m looking forward to working with Ian as we invest in the strategic growth of our Wells, Decom and Innovation business streams across new geographic and energy sector markets.”
Retalic's appointment to the sales team at Unity follows that of wells and decom specialist Dillan Perras, who joined the board in January.
DOF has been awarded a substantial Subsea Engineering Procurement Removal and Disposal (EPRD) Contract from A/S Norske Shell in the Atlantic region, with more than 100 combined days utilisation of the vessels Skandi Hera and Maersk Installer.
Under the contract, the company will deliver an integrated solution of project management, engineering, design, analysis and survey. Services will range from the recovery and recycling of umbilicals, risers, rigid spools and manifolds to other subsea structures and infrastructure, at the Knarr and Gaupe fields. Preparatory work is on before offshore execution begins in Q2 and Q3 2025.
Mons S. Aase, CEO DOF Group ASA, said, "The award continues to demonstrate DOF’s inhouse capability of offering turnkey solutions to our existing and new customers, building on our established capability offering in the decommissioning market."
Marking its latest development as a 'decommissioning milestone', Perenco UK announced that it has successfully completed the plug and abandonment of three subsea wells at the Gawain field in the UK Southern North Sea.
In a campaign that added up to 160 days and included more than 340 air dives, the workforce made sure to remove all associated subsea infrastructure as well. Post decommissioning surveys will continue till the end of the year so that the seabed is left spotless.
Given the challenging winters in the Southern North Sea, the team was able to tackle the project unscathed as they worked considering the health, safety and environment factors. Workers were backed by specialist contractors and a jack-up vessel equipped with an air-based diving, and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) spread to allow for rig-based diving.
Perenco UK SNS Managing Director, Jo White, said, “The completion of this significant project shows the commitment Perenco has to effective and efficient decommissioning of our SNS assets. It highlights the expertise of our specialist teams, with a mindset of developing innovative approaches, while maintaining a strong focus on health, safety and the environment.”
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